Roadmaster Kevin Huber told Heidelberg supervisors during their Dec. 12 meeting he looked at two Tiger mowers, and the New Holland mower from Stephenson Equipment on state contract was the best deal.

The $113,073 cost will be met with a 7-year loan.

"It is nearly identical to what we have but has more power," Huber said.

The roller the township owns dates back to 1980 and is metal-wheeled, very rough to use on dirt roads.

That roller is costing more to fix than to replace.

Huber has been renting one from Case Powerco, with a sale price of $55,000.

If the township purchases it, rental monies paid will apply to the cost.

However, because of the amount of money bidding is required.

Huber is looking at a 15 ton to 25-ton vibrating roller. The bid would be for the same or an equivalent.

Lynn, Lowhill, Heidelberg and Weisenberg townships received a grant from Lehigh County Community and Economic Development for about one-half the cost of a roller, with the total cost to be shared.

Each township paid $14,280 to purchase the roller with $7,100 from the county and each township will receive $7,180 from the Lynn, Lowhill, Heidelberg and Weisenberg COG account which, combined, covers the total cost.

In other matters, the 2014 budget was approved with a .6-mill tax for the township and a .4-mill fire tax. This brings the total to 1 mill.

All funds in the budget total $1,599, 960. Real estate taxes bring in $159,600. Earned income revenue is $360,000.

The fire company will receive $97,000. State liquid fuels money for the roads is $145,175 in revenue and expense.

Road crew members worked on a pipe and two catch boxes at Musket and Flint Hill roads; put up regulatory signs; did tree trimming; worked on swales at Hollenbach and Buckery roads; and placed "no parking" signs at Heidelberg Heights, near the playground.

PennDOT said multiple stops at Memorial and Saegersville roads were not warranted as there have not been any accidents there.

A warning sign for 35 mph will be erected and PennDOT suggested the township put one up on the other side of the intersection, which is a township road.

A question was raised whether a single property can have multiple driveways.

Township Engineer Roy Stewart interpreted the ordinance to mean there can be more than one with a distance between them when there are multiple uses for a property such as farms.

Kathy Hermany said the ordinance used to be for one only.

The ordinance will be changed specifying distance between drives, but horseshoe drives at a single family home will not be permitted.

Supervisor David Fink said the problem seems to come from an "s" being added to driveway in the ordinance and it will have to be removed.

Administrator Janice Bortz said she attended the Lehigh County Tax Collection meeting.

It has a $23,600 budget for 2014 and will be renegotiating its budget with Berkheimer Tax Collectors.

She said businesses are trying to obtain contacts through the right-to-know law, such as by asking who or how many in the township do certain things.

The Goodwill Fire Company, Germansville, passed a resolution to open a separate checking account for fire tax money.

The fire company can borrow from the truck fund if tax money does not come in soon enough, Vice President Paul Grothouse.

He said changes in the rules for games of chance may help many nonprofits including the fire companies.

The Northwestern Recreation Commission is buying drags for each of the fields at a cost of $170 each.

Sheds will be erected and the township waived all administrative fees in connection with the buildings.

The new practice field was leveled after heavy rains made it settle.

Supervisors voted to accept conditions for buying equipment through the Public Surplus Auction Company.

Kathy Hermany turned in her resignation after 10 years with the township. An advertisement will be placed to fill that position.

John Cacciatore of ADT told the board what the company has available in security systems.

There is a choice of two standard burglar alarm systems.

Also considered is a pulse system using more technology, such as giving notification when someone goes in or out.

Workers can have different codes, a wireless panic button can be included and there can be two digital cameras with one on the door and one on a computer, a holdup button with a silent alarm and many extras can be added later.

The camera, which has a commercial time stamp, runs for 30 seconds but retains the information for 30 days. The information can be relayed to a smart phone.

Free repairs are covered under a service plan.

If the phone lines are cut, there is a backup.

The proposal was tabled for more consideration and because a new supervisor will be seated in January.

Supervisor Steve Bachman was upset by the membership letter sent to residents by the fire company.

Grothouse said it was required until the fire tax takes effect and then will be dropped.

Businesses are re-quired by ordinance to recycle and students are complaining there is not enough recycling at Northwestern School District. Bortz said they do recycle some things.

Bachman said when students complain, it should be checked.

The board's reorganization meeting will be 7 p.m. Jan. 6, 2014. The regular supervisors' meeting will then be at 7:30 p.m.