For years, critics of environmental regulation have liked to joke about construction projects being put on hold because someone saw a bog turtle. It's no longer a joke in Northampton County. The Rasleytown Road bridge project in Plainfield Township has been put on hold because the area has been identified as a potential bog turtle habitat. Some even claim to have seen one or two of these tiny turtles, which have been on the threatened species list since 1997.

In addition to delaying the bridge work, the state Department of Environmental Protection is requiring a new study to determine whether the bridge work could adversely impact Pennsylvania's smallest turtle. It will cost the county $21,000, according to Public Works Director Richard Young.

The Raselytown Road Bridge is one of 16 bridges under repair in the county, thanks to a $19.6 million bond floated a year ago.

By a 7-1 vote at their July 17 meeting, county council members agreed to foot the bill. Mat Benol voted no, but Bob Werner reminded him they really have no choice if they want to fix the bridge.

Of course, there were a few turtle jokes. Hayden Phillips drew the biggest laugh at a Finance Committee meeting when he explained, "They're going to take pictures of individual turtles as they find them. I don't know if they have a yearbook. That's the EPA."

According to Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat Commission, bog turtles live about 20-30 years, but spend half that time in a dormant state, buried in mud.

They only grow four inches long. Their shells are too soft to protect themselves from predators, so they dive into the mud.

In other business, council approved more than $400,000 in grants for municipal park improvements in Lehigh, Williams and Forks townships, as well as Hellertown and Northampton boroughs. The money for these grants derives from the half mill of tax for a "pay as you go" open space program, first approved by council in 2006.

Phillips voted against these grants, saying the county's unrestricted reserve, or rainy day fund, has dropped from about $60 million in 2006 to just $11.1 million at the end of last year. "That financial well is not there anymore," he said.

But Glenn Geissinger disagreed, saying investments attract business and actually encourage economic development. "I think personally that this is why we pay taxes," added Mat Benol.

More Northampton County news on page A10.