North Whitehall supervisors had a public hearing to for a conditional use request to open an antique store at the intersection of Route 309 and Kernsville Road.

Township Solicitor Lisa Young outlined the procedure for both the board and the applicant's benefit.

The shop would be located on the first floor of a two-story structure.

The second floor would be used for storage.

Approximately 1,500 square feet will be set aside for the store.

Stone Manor Antiques would be open five days a week, several hours each day.

Six parking spaces are required, along with one handicapped space.

The lot is approximately a third of an acre.

Owners Gerald and Elena Rickheim expect to have 25 to 30 cars per day with access to Route 309.

The planning commission gave the proposal a favorable review.

Resident Fred Nonnemacher asked whether there was enough room for a sidewalk for access to the building.

Ron Roth was concerned with tractor trailer traffic at the intersection

After discussion, the board voted to approve the request, conditional upon the applicant meeting requirements of the ordinance, obtaining a highway occupancy permit from PennDOT, handicapped accessibility is addressed and the sewage system is adequate.

Supervisor Richard Celmer voted against the proposal citing increased traffic and parking problems.

In other matters, the board will accept bids for farming approximately five acres of township-owned tillable land near Coplay Creek Road.

They are also looking for a person to oversee the mulch pile when residents come to the site.

This would be a part-time position on two evenings and Saturday.

Anyone interested should contact the township office.

The bid for gasoline and diesel fuel was awarded to PATCO.

Only one bid was received. This was rejected in favor of the PATCO bid.

The PATCO bid, also known as Isobunkers, was a piggy back bid with Lehigh County.

An emergency services grant was awarded to Laurys Station Fire Company for the purchase of a new pumper fire truck.

The grant was $50,000 with delivery of the fire truck expected this March.

Township Manager Jeff Bartlett notified the Board that there would be two building code appeals coming up in the near future.

One concerns the installation of an electrical service at the Lehigh Carbon Community College, while the second is for erection of an office trailer for a construction project which would last one year.

Bartlett acknowledged the many compliments and thanks that residents were giving the Township road crew for their efforts in removing the snow and ice after the storms.

The cold weather also took its toll on area roads with the appearance of numerous potholes.

Potholes on township roads should be reported to the township office.

Reports on state roads should be called in to PennDOT.

The Township website is almost ready.

Tests are being run now and final details will be wrapped up next week.

The Parkland Community Library forwarded a request to use the township building for a summer reading program.

The program would be held once a week for six or seven weeks and be open to residents in the Parkland School District.

The Board voted to allow this request.

Brook Hills road dedication was before the Board again.

Kevin Schmidt and John Simock, representing Neffs Bank and Steven Hawk from Lehigh Engineering presented plans to the Board for their review of the storm water easements.

After much discussion, it was decided to have the easements staked out so that township personnel can check to see if access is adequate for township vehicles.

A second easement was studied which drained into an infiltration trench.

Pany noted that the Township would be responsible for maintenance on the storm water easement but not on the infiltration trench.

That would be the property owners responsibility.

Pany forwarded a request for a waiver on the time limitations on the Klusaritz minor subdivision on Rising Sun Road.

The Board was in favor of this and waived the 30 day limit to allow the plan to be submitted in 21 days so it could be placed on the March planning commission agenda.