Whitehall Township continues its aggressive approach to collecting past due garbage bills.

To aid in its approach, the township tasked its solicitor with filing liens with Lehigh County.

"The township continues to be successful in its lien filing policy," said Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. during his report to the board of commissioners Nov. 11. "The township paid for several outstanding garbage liens, including one customer who was delinquent from 2000-2013, nearly $5,000 in bills."

For health reasons, the township continues to pick up garbage from homeowners late in paying their bills. Even though property owners refuse to pay their refuse bills, the township must pay a private hauler for the pickup. The collection fee is covered by the township.

In other business, the commissioners were informed the township's voice messaging system was destroyed. Hozza said the township now has a brand new functioning system, with a full warranty. The cost to the township was $2,500.

Officials also announced the township recently received a check for over $48,000 for "good health insurance claims experience."

Hozza said the township may receive another rebate should the level of claims remain the same through the rest of the year.

Hozza also said the township's human resource officer devoted time to health insurance renewal and distribution of information regarding employee premiums.