East Allen Township Engineer James Milot announced July 27 a contract award to Grace Industries for repairs on Dogwood Road.

“The eight bids the township received ranged from a low bid of a bit over $50,000 to a high bid of more than $100,000,” he said during the supervisors’ meeting.

Dogwood Road is the main entrance to Bicentennial Park off Airport Road. The road is plagued by a collapsed culvert restricting traffic to one lane. The contract calls for the project to be completed in 60 days. Milot thinks completion can be wrapped up in less time.

“We are going to close the street to speed the process along,” he said.

Solicitor Joseph Piperato reported all the necessary easements were received from the property owner.

Also at the meeting, township Supervisor Deborah Seiple reiterated the Rock Lehigh Valley hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 16 in the Northampton Area High School auditorium. The partnership has the Rockefeller Group building warehouses along Weaversville Road. The proposal includes improvements to Weaversville Road to make it more compatible to truck traffic. Prior hearings were delayed at the request of Rock Lehigh Valley partners. The last scheduled hearing was delayed because there was not enough space available for all who wanted to attend. The new venue provides enough space for all interested residents.

In other news, Seiple announced Cody Weber and Henry Pattis attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Also, after some deliberation, the board approved the preliminary land development plan for VerTek’s proposed warehouse on the corner of Route 329 and Airport Road. VerTek asked the board for three variances. Two were rather minor and involved the size and depth of detention ponds.

The third variance asked for a waiver on the discharge from the detention ponds. The requirements specify that a discharge is 50 feet from the property line. The developer asked for 15 feet. VerTek asked for the shorter distance to avert a high retaining wall along the Nor-Bath Trail. Chairman Roger Unangst objected to the variance.

“We need the distance to allow the water to dissipate,” he said.

The water exits the property onto Jacksonville Road. Homeowners along the road supported Unangst’s comments. VerTek, after some discussion, proposed diverting water along the edge of the property line to meet the 50-foot requirement.

According to VerTek, the amount of water discharged onto Jacksonville Road will be significantly less than existing flows.

VerTek requested a variance on the height of the building on its initial application. Zoning ordinances restrict height to 34 feet. Building practices on warehouse facilities set a ceiling height at 38 feet to accommodate equipment and modern building components. The request for a height variance was denied by the zoning board. VerTek appealed the decision.

Chuck Frantz reported to council on another successful day camp.

“We had a special day at the [Lehigh Valley Zoo] and were able to feed Murphy, the giraffe,” he said.

The parents and campers raised $1,500 for a bench at the giraffe house.