Bob Rysher of na studios has been in the process of creating a new website for Lehigh Township.

At the supervisors' Dec. 10 meeting, citizens were given a preview of what the website will look like.

Inspection forms, ordinances and resolutions will be available. Residents also will able to make online payments. The site will include links to emergency services and a calendar of events.

Rysher said staff training will be free but he recommended one person be in charge of updating the site, though a few individuals will be trained.

People with smartphones can sign up for emergency alerts from the police department or administration.

After 2013 an archive section will begin.

Email will be free for 500 accounts but when Supervisor Darryl Snover said he didn't think the 100 megabytes per account would be enough, Rysher said the number of accounts could be smaller so each has more space available.

Technical support will be free.

In response to a question from Supervisor Keith Hantz, Rysher said the site is expected to go live sometime this month. Supervisor Cindy Miller said the township received a grant for broadband and officials decided to use it toward the website. She said the old system was "rather cumbersome." She sees it as a communications hub.

Supervisor Sandy Hopkins said the site will keep residents more informed.

Rysher said the website allows the township to be more transparent. Those using the website can reach anything with one click.

"We focus on municipal websites," Rysher said.

In other business, the township adopted its 2014 budget, which includes no tax increase. Hantz thanked township Manager Alice Rehrig for her hard work on the budget.

Also at the meeting, Barbara Green of Blue Mountain brought a copy of what she would like to see on a sign mounted on the back of the "Welcome to Lehigh Township" sign on top of the mountain on Blue Mountain Drive. It would read "Blue Mountain Summit Lodge, turn right."

She said she will try to use Google to find a way to direct people other than having them cross the township on Blue Mountain Drive which has several bad curves and is narrow.

Also, a police fee resolution was passed, raising fees or instituting new fees where there were none.

Impound fees will be charged. Vehicles are seldom impounded except when they are required for evidence.

Fingerprinting for nonresidents will cost $20. Fees will be charged for photos and incident reports requested by insurance companies.

In another matter, Rehrig said Salem Methodist Church wants signs to mark its driveway. PennDOT told the church to talk to the township. Rehrig will send a letter to PennDOT giving its approval for the project.