With the Coplay-Northampton Bridge under construction, Coplay Borough decided to fix the intersection at Second and Chestnut streets. Township Engineer Daniel Witczak, of Acela Engineering, presented his findings at the Coplay Borough Council meeting Sept. 11.

Council members had expressed their concerns about the intersection during several prior meetings. The goal, as Councilman Charles Sodl expressed it, is to make the borough’s busiest intersection as good as it can be.

Making it the best includes a good base.

“When we looked at the base, about half of the concrete needs to be replaced. Some of the newer concrete was not connected to the older sections, so the intersection was bumpy,” Witczak said.

His estimate to redo the main intersection is $62,000. Chestnut Street’s repairs run another $57,000.

Council had some discussion about ripping everything out and starting over, but Witczak contended there would be little longevity to gain.

Sodl’s concern is that the old asphalt had ripples. Witczak investigated the problem.

In his analysis, Witczak indicated that asphalt applied over smooth surface concrete will ripple when heat and pressure are applied, i.e., trucks on a hot summer day. His suggestion is to rough up the concrete surface so the asphalt has something to stick to. Council appears ready to make the commitment to improve the intersection.

In a related matter, council, with Sodl leading the charge, is unsatisfied with Front Street. The street has noticeable ripples in the pavement.

“There is little we can do. [Coplay-Whitehall Sewer Authority] had the road inspected, and their expert concluded it met PennDOT specifications,” Council President Louis Bodish said.

Sodl countered the borough should get its own expert.

Bodish indicated that there is a proposal on the table to remove and resurface the road for around $60,000. The question is who is going to pay. The borough wants the contractor to pay. Witczak is going to research PennDOT standards to verify if there is surface performance criteria.

Council appointed Kimberly Bachman as secretary/treasurer and Tiffany Benson as her assistant. Christopher Grim was appointed emergency management coordinator.

Budget discussions have also started.

“We need to be able to keep the budget at the same amount this year. We cannot keep going back to people and asking for more tax dollars,” Sodl said.

Council is in general agreement.

In a surprising turn of events, the borough has received a letter from a private party interested in the borough’s 1 Bridge St. property. The borough originally purchased the property for municipal buildings. The cost of a new municipal building is outside the reach of the borough at this point. Bodish said he is willing to talk to the private party.

Councilman Stephen Burker addressed casino grant funds available to municipalities within Lehigh County.

“There is a $300,000 fund for the county, and it will be dispersed based on the need and type of projects,” he said.

Jorge Aguayo asked council for advice on how to certify that sinkhole repairs to his building were done correctly. His property at 52-57 N. Second St. was repaired. Aguayo questioned the repair. The verification is outside the scope of the borough’s duties. The solicitor suggested he work with his insurance company to verify existing repairs and protect himself from sinkholes in the future.

Thinking ahead? Trick-or-treat night is 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26.