At the Dec. 3 meeting, South Whitehall commissioners granted approval to Lehigh County to proceed with Phase I on a 139-acre property at 4200 Broadway.

The proposal includes construction of two soccer fields, a stone walking path connecting fields to parking areas, 70 new parking spaces, extension of W. Walnut Street by 400 feet, and modifications to the existing detention basin.

Future improvements presented now for conceptual approval only will be comprised of a new building with unspecified use, restroom, extension of driveways, widening of W. Walnut Street, bus parking areas and 121 parking spaces.

In other business, commissioners approved a resolution to retain the $280 annual rate for residential waste collection.

Director of Finance Lenore Horos was granted permission to draw down $1,100,403 for 2014 capital projects and $1,300,000 for additional work after the first of the year.

"This will complete the $3 million general obligation bond," Horos said.

She noted a portion was drawn out earlier this year for funding a fire truck.

Engineer Ralph Russek reported PennDOT is working on the issue of signage and beacons in Mechanicsville.

The subject was raised several months go by a woman whose dog was hit by a fast moving car.

In the ongoing saga of Wehr's Dam, Michael Molovinsky commented on the $200,000 study underway by KCI Technologies, funded by a grant obtained by Wildlands Conservancy.

lands Conservancy.

"It's a foregone conclusion," Molovinsky said. "They're going to call for removal of the dam."

He asked any commissioners to make a motion to add Wehr's Dam to the historic overlay district to secure its protection.

"Not tonight," President Christina "Tori" Morgan replied.

"Then, I'll be back in two weeks," Molovinsky said.

LeRoy Schmidt then stepped forward to sing a song he wrote about Wehr's Dam.

His hearty voice rang throughout the room as his song expressed how much the dam means to him.