South Whitehall Township Director of Emergency Management Jeff Kelly told commissioners Verizon is proposing removal of the cell tower at Brickyard Road, behind Rutz Farm.

The tower would be replaced by a new 150-foot-tall structure, double the height of the existing tower.

The replacement would provide better communication and safety for emergency management, improved mobile dispatch for police, greater data coverage and finer communication for emergency responders' hand-held units.

Commissioner Glenn Block spoke in support of the proposed tower at the July 2 meeting.

"I think this is a very good thing for the township," Block said. "It benefits communication, plus they [Verizon] will pay for it."

The township's board of authority will make the decision on the tower replacement.

In other business, resident Michael Molovinsky made a second appearance before the board to request preservation of Wehr's Dam.

He reported on Saturday's or Sunday's, many people can be seen experiencing the magic of the dam.

Molovinsky commented on the Wildlands Conservancy's plans for a riparian buffer along the Jordan Creek at Wehr's Dam Park.

"Riparian buffer is a fancy word for 6-foot weeds," he told the board.

Commissioner Dale Daubert, who stated he favors keeping the dam, asked who owns it.

"Do we have the authority to decide what happens to it?" Daubert asked. "Do we have the legal jurisdiction to make this determination?"

South Whitehall Solicitor Joseph Zator responded, saying commissioners and the Department of Environmental Protection would need to make the decision.

"It is my understanding, if one of those entities votes no to demolish the dam, it stays," Zator said.

The board took the matter under advisement.

Resident Sam Sacco, of Blue Barn Road, ex-pressed disapproval of the use of outside contractors for collection of water, sewer and solid waste bills.

"I feel the township is getting further and further away from what its purpose is," Sacco said. "More and more is contracted out. I think in-house is better than a collection agency.

"The township is here to serve its constituents."

Board President Christina "Tori" Morgan said residents can still call township staff, if problems arise.

"The personal touch will not go away," Morgan said.