Eleven lifeguards from Whitehall Township’s three pools received commendations from the board of commissioners at its workshop meeting Aug. 6.

Mayor Michael Harakal Jr. said when he and the board first decided to recognize lifeguards who had made rescues during this season, they did not realize just how often it really happened. Township officials extended their appreciation for the dedication of all the township lifeguards.

“Lots of communities were unable to keep pools open because of a shortage of lifeguards, but we have been lucky to have enough qualified lifeguards,” Harakal said.

The lifeguards who received commendations from Harakal and pool manager Robin Dorney were recognized for their quick responses to emergency situations at the pool and rescuing people who were in distress. Most of the rescues were of young children who jumped into deep water and had trouble swimming.

Recognized for one rescue each at Jefferson Pool, Fullerton, were Kali Bartynski, Kristin Laky, Patrick Ruggeri and Liam Sullivan.

Recognized for two rescues each at Jefferson Pool were Madison Link and Rachel Schannauer.

Recognized for one rescue at Parkview Pool, Hokendauqua, was Kayla Yandrasitz.

Recognized for two rescues each at Cementon Pool were Martin Labib and Jordan Rivera.

Also receiving commendations, but not able to attend, were Brianna Peacock and Emily Haggerty.

In other business, the board heard a resolution that would authorize the township to apply for a grant to pay for a consultation and start the process to get the area around the Thomas Iron Works recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

The register is the official list of historic places worthy of preservation, and being on the register would help the township identify, evaluate and protect the Thomas Iron Works, which is in the township’s proposed Hokendauqua historic district.

The neighborhood includes approximately 100 factory homes built to serve the iron plant in the 1880s. The homes were primarily built as workers’ row homes but also include some Victorian mansions built for executives. The proposed district would include the area from Front Street to Third Street and from Quigg Street to Carbon Street.

The Thomas Iron Works was named for David Thomas, a Welsh ironmaker who came to the Lehigh Valley in 1839 to pioneer hot blast ironmaking in the region. He started his own company and built blast furnaces in Hokendauqua.

A public tour of the area is planned for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 27 to make people aware of the historical significance of that area.

The Hokendauqua/Thomas Iron Works area would be the first historic preservation district in the township.

Harakal reported the exit ramp from Route 22 westbound to Fullerton Avenue is now open.

Harakal said the township received a notice about the opening from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation but was asked to wait to release information in case there were last-minute changes.

The exit ramp opened July 30 and had been closed since August 2016 for interchange reconstruction at Fullerton Avenue and Route 22.

The ramp to Route 22 eastbound remains closed and is anticipated to open in August 2019, according to PennDOT.

The project is part of the $65 million Route 22 improvement project.

The next commissioners meeting is 7 p.m. Aug. 13.