Bethlehem Township Commissioners gave their blessing to a permanent helipad at the St. Luke’s Hospital Anderson campus Sep. 17. By a 4-0 vote, they approved both the helipad and anticipated flight take-off and landing patterns. This vote came after a hearing attended by about 30 people, some of whom were there for other matters. Voting Yes were Malissa Davis, John Gallagher, Michael Hudak and John Merhotten. Tom Nolan was absent.

St. Luke’s Anderson currently maintains a temporary helipad at the southern terminus of St. Luke’s Boulevard, near the Lehigh River. When a critical care patient is transported, the hospital must notify 9-1-1. Fire vehicles and ambulances are dispatched to the site with lights and sirens. It also is located some distance away from the hospital tower, necessitating an ambulance transport from the chopper.

Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Dave Stapinski said a permanent helipad, to be located next to a tower under construction, is “so much safer.” He noted that helicopters landing now often kick up cinders in the open parking lot. He added that some drivers just ignore the fire engines and ambulances there to establish a perimeter. He recounted one instance in which a car drove under a helicopter as it was landing.

Although members of the public had a few questions, only Chetwin Terrace resident Barry Roth was opposed. He initially complained about the flight path, until it was demonstrated he misunderstood it. Then it was the noise. “I hear the chopper leave from Gracedale all the time,” he complained.

Helicopters stopped flying from Gracedale several months ago. PennStar is now based at Geissinger Medical Center.

Attorney Steven Boell, representing St. Luke’s, called three witnesses in support of the permanent helipad. Ray Midlam, a hospital VP, explained the desire for a permanent helipad next to a tower under construction. This will enable the hospital to transport newborn infants in need of critical care, as well as trauma patients. He said the chopper is currently used once a month. He projects an increase to about twice a month as a result of transporting newborn infants. He admitted there would be a need to cross the street from the tower to the helipad, but said that security would be on hand to prevent any mishaps.

Scott Pasterski, of Keystone Engineering, is the project manager. He described the permanent helipad as a 70-foot diameter concrete heated pad that would never need to be plowed. A 13 foot wide buffer, free of obstructions, will buffer the concrete circle. Fire suppression will be located on site, as well as a wind sock. The helicopter will fuel off site.

Adam Maziuk, a former EMT in Bethlehem Township, was the clean-up hitter. He testified he spent 13 years flying with PennStar, and described the noise. He indicated that when a helicopter is 2,500 feet in the sky, the nearest it gets to a residence, it generates just ambient noise. He said the chopper gets noisy the closer you get to it, and described the sound in most instances like a bus.

Under Bethlehem Township’s zoning law, a helipad requires 15 acres. The St. Luke’s Anderson campus is 180 acres. The helipad itself is located 0.40 miles away from the nearest home. The proposal has already been approved by the Pa. Bureau of Aviation.

Fire Chief Stapinski summed up the sentiment of most of the room. “We’re blessed to have a hospital in our back yard.”

In other business, Commissioners heard numerous complaints about speeding along Merlot Lane, located in the Vineyards development. “Its a raceway,” complained resident Anthony Billone. He broke down when he told Commissioners that his dog darted out into the street and was run over and killed in front of his 9 year-old daughter. She was chasing after the dog and was nearly struck herself. Since that incident, his daughter is unable to sleep alone.

But as crazy as it sounds, solicitor Jim Broughal repeated an often-repeated statement that PennDOT refuses to authorize stop signs to control speed. If a township ignores PennDOT and puts up a stop sign anyway, it will be liable for any accidents at that location.

Commissioner John Merhotten urged Malone to lobby his state legislator to change the law.

Residents living at Anthony Court also spoke for over a half-hour about a recent decision to allow 20 girls to practice soccer there twice a week. Frank Grillo, who heads the township Athletic Association, explained that using Anthony Court takes some pressure off the fields near the community center. He said that over 400 kids have signed up for soccer, and he is even renting high school fields.

“If something is wrong, call me,” he told Anthony Court residents. He said he has three coaches there, and has no desire to offend neighbors.