Bethlehem City Council gave final approval to restructure and refinance the Bethlehem Water Department's debt at its Aug. 19 meeting. The Bethlehem Authority water revenue bond will also include a loan of $5 million for improvements to be made to the city's water system.

City Business Administrator David Brong expressed his support of the bond.

"What you have in front of you is the manifestation of a lot of work," Brong said. "The end result will provide a favorable operating plan."

Council member Bryan Callahan also voiced his support.

"We are going to write off a $6 million line of credit," he said. "I think it's a great deal for the city."

Also at the meeting, a resolution was passed to amend the lease to Illick's Mill at Monocacy Park. Council member Karen Dolan recently came under fire for her relationship with the Gertrude B. Fox Environmental Center. The center previously paid no rent for use of the Illick's Mill property. Questions had been raised about the ethics of her role as chair of the city's Parks and Public Property Committee while she remained CEO and executive director of Fox. Dolan has since resigned from her positions with the parks committee and Fox.

"What we are voting on is an amended lease," said Mayor Robert Donchez prior to the council's vote. "Rent will be $200 per month plus utility payments."

Donchez also asked whether the many festivals held in Bethlehem throughout the year should be made to pay more toward the extra costs the festivals impose on the city. He said the extra costs are mostly in employee man-hours from police, fire, sanitation and other services.

"My philosophy is to try and meet with the event holders, like Runner's World (which sponsors the Runner's World Half Marathon in Bethlehem), and encourage them to make a financial commitment to the city," Donchez said. "It's important to make some kind of financial contribution."

In other council business, the "Room to Grow" grant application was approved, allowing for improvements to the Bethlehem Area Public Library, including a new children's room and renovated bathrooms, and a resolution was passed authorizing the use of public property by the Celtic Fest, Inc. for the Celtic Classic in 2014, 2015 and 2016.