Northampton County's nine-member Gaming Board doles out the slots revenue from the Sands Casino every year. This year, their work might be finished early. Applications for this year's grants stand at about $1.6 million, and that's about all that the board expects to get.

Karen Collis said succinctly when the board met on March 23, "As of now, there's $88." She was referring to the amount of money in the restricted fund, used for the first and possibly only round of grants.

"Thanks for coming!" John Dally wisecracked to the applicants in the audience.

By law, the first round of grants must go to Bethlehem, Northampton County and the five municipalities surrounding Bethlehem. These are Hanover Township, Bethlehem Township, Lower Saucon Township and Freemansburg and Hellertown. To be awarded a grant, they must show they've been impacted by gambling. If any money is left over, it can be awarded to other municipalities.

This year's grant applications are as follows:

Bethlehem – The Christmas City is seeking nearly half of the $1.6 million expected this year. It also is impacted more heavily than any other municipality. It wants $400,000 for a $1.2 million 95-foot aerial bucket truck. This vehicle will be able to respond to the casino within four minutes if called into service. Bethlehem is also asking for $130,000 to re-chassis an aging 2007 ambulance. EMT Tom Decker told the board 7.5 percent of the ambulance call volume is for the casino. Finally, Planning Director Darlene Heller and DCED Director Alicia Karner pitched a $250,000 proposal for improvements to the South Bethlehem greenway. Karner called this a positive impact of the casino because many casino employees are using the Greenway, located between Third and Fourth streets, to walk to work.

Tom Nolan was dubious. "I find it difficult to connect the dots," he said. Karner connected them, explaining people who live in South Bethlehem neighborhoods use the greenway to get to their job at the casino. "When the Bethlehem Steel was there, they all walked," added Freemansburg Mayor Gerald Yob,

Bethlehem Township – Three grants are being sought for the purchase of two police vehicles ($101,528), 15 new defibrillators ($23,514) and replacement of a 2007 ambulance ($120,200). Capt. Greg Gottschall said the new cruisers will replace the oldest vehicles, which are seven years old. He said the defibrillators need to be replaced because of changes in the software. Finally, ambulance officials told the board that they responded to 842 calls in Bethlehem last year, most of them on the Southside.

Freemansburg – Chief Todd Pantuso did the talking, and is asking for $102,988 for an enhancement to operational technology. Freemansburg's Main Street is taken as a short cut to the casino, the chief explained. He's seen the traffic triple since his arrival one-and-a-half years ago. DUI and drug arrests have increased as well. While dealing with increased crime and traffic, his computer system has frozen several times. No data has been lost.

Hanover Township – Director of Administration Ryan Kish wants $42,000 for a Chevy Tahoe to be driven by one of the township's three emergency management professionals. He also is asking for $8,800 for crash and crime scene software.

Kish's proposal is just a fraction of the cost for a similar software program sought and obtained by Palmer Township police last year. Kish explained he was trying to find an inexpensive program. "The way it looks, you found it," noted John Dally.

Less complimentary was Tom Nolan. He questioned whether this software can legally be purchased for Colonial Regional Police when two of the municipalities that it serves are not impacted communities. He also questioned the need for an emergency management official to drive around in a Chevy Tahoe.

Hellertown – Nobody needs a traffic study to know traffic is congested in Hellertown, especially coming from South Bethlehem, where the casino is located. Chief Robert Shupp told the board that there's now prostitution, daytime DUIs and he even seized an illegal poker machine from a local business. He's seeking funding for two police officers at $207,034.

Lower Saucon Township – Chief Guy Lesser would like to fund a police officer ($101,897) and wants to replace a Ford Interceptor Van ($30,294) that has more than 100,000 miles.

Northampton County – Drug and Alcohol Administrator Tiffany Rossanese is seeking $143,765 this year for gambling addiction treatment and support services. She believes the county needs to do more to identify problem gamblers and provide more education to the community. In addition to transitional housing, the county supports three recovery centers, and assists addicts with job placement and even interviews.

These grants could be awarded in April. It will be up to Joe Kelly (Bethlehem), Tom Nolan (Bethlehem Township), Gerald Yob (Freemansburg), Jay Finnigan (Hanover), Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown), Dave Willard (Lower Saucon), Tony Pristash (Northampton), John Dally (Pen Argyl) and James Pennington (Lower Nazareth) to decide.