Lehigh Township supervisors heard at the Oct. 11 meeting the Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) should be received by the Cherryville developer in early November. Work on the new Turkey Hill could then commence in early 2017.

This HOP was considered phase one, and the township HOP is considered phase 2 for the improvements to the intersection.

A resident reported during that meeting he was in Turkey Hill and was told by an employee the project will not go forward.

Supervisors responded they thought that was unlikely but possible.

The budget for 2017 was discussed. A backhoe is on the list of proposed road equipment to be purchased. One should last 25 years, but the township’s is only seven or eight years old and has required $11,000 in repairs this year, with another $10,000 coming up.

Frank Zamadics, road foreman, has been looking at John Deere or Case as a replacement. The old one would be traded or auctioned off.

Also needed is a car tire balancer, which would be of most benefit on the police cars. What is considered would not be large enough for work on the trucks.

A new laptop, completely set up, is needed at a cost of $14,000.

A license plate reader is required, and there is still a question if a new computer would be needed. The readers will be quicker and more efficient, according to Lehigh Township Police Chief Scott Fogel.

Supervisor Keith Hantz noted the police have scales on their list of needed equipment. Two sets would cost $15,000, and they would be sufficient for everything except large semi’s. Three sets, which is what are eventually needed, would be $22,000.

Supervisor Darryl Snover said the township gets more than its share of heavy trucks coming through from New Jersey.

For the municipal office, a document imaging machine is needed with searchable storage. It would free up manpower, said township Manager Alice Rehrig. A wide-format copier is also needed.

Electronic submission of plans may be required from developers since the township needs both electronic and paper plans.

In recreation, $6,000 of infield mix is required to repair the fields. The Danielsville field needs an electric outlet for refrigeration. Water filters on the fields are being replaced monthly instead of quarterly, said Zamadics.