The 2019 preliminary budget was presented to Upper Macungie supervisors at their Nov. 1 meeting.

Anticipated revenue is $34,288,119 with expected expenditures of $32,473,689.

Residents can, therefore, expect no tax increase.

The board noted 36.3 percent of the budget covers contractual services such as engineering fees.

Receipts from permits, fees, charges, etc. cover 34.1 percent of the income.

Supervisors voted to adopt the budget during their December meeting.

Resident Bob Burns of Fogelsville brought a stormwater issue before the board.

He told supervisors there is a problem with water runoff draining from a 30-inch pipe into a 22-inch pipe on the west side of Church Road and north of Main Street.

Burns said recent storms have aggravated the problem and he was seeking help with the situation.

Supervisors asked Solicitor Andrew Schantz and Engineer Dave Alban to look into the problem.

Pennsylvania Fire Recovery Service was appointed to collect money owed the township for fire incidents.

A representative of the firm explained the program.

The company’s fee is 15 percent of what is collected and it will check insurance policies when a fire occurs to ascertain if it is possible to receive some remuneration for putting out the fire.

Schantz was given the task of making any changes necessary to the agreement and forwarding it to township Manager Robert Ibach Jr. for signature.

The appointment of Kalman Sostarecz to replace Ashley Godshall as township secretary and executive assistant.

Other business included announcing the date and time - 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30 for the tree lighting ceremony on south Church Street across from Lowe and Moyer Garage; recommendation of the next steps in the Capital Campaign, approval to advertise for bidding on the farmers market and approval for dog behavior training at the dog park.

Supervisors approved the motion to sell Independent Park as it is not holding its own as far as revenue vs expenses.

The park shows approximately $55,000 in losses yearly. The minimum bid will be $1.5 million, the original purchase price for the approximately 23 acres and buildings.

Total calls for service of the police department numbered 828 with 266 traffic citations and 128 warnings issued.

The most reported crime was disturbing the peace with 17 infractions followed by 12 fraud crimes and 10 DUIs.

The K-9 team gave two public demonstrations and one narcotics search. The motor carrier program showed a total of 71 violations discovered with 13 citations issued.

Police are currently accepting coats for kids at the lobby of the station.

Operation Bee Safe, formerly Operation Safe Stop, to make bus stops safer, conducted 82 safety checks with some citations and parking tickets issued.

Fire inspections for October were 71 which makes the year-to-date total 738.

Emergency responses at the Fogelsville Station totaled 47 while Trexlertown had 33 and Station 56 answered 49 calls.

Station 56 gained six new members as did Trexlertown under the recruitment and retention program.

ATAS Manufacturing, 8364 Main St., presented its plan to the planning commission for a conditional use.

The planning commission reviewed the plan and recommended supervisors advertise for a public hearing.

October yielded 60 building permits, four electrical, 12 mechanical, one plumbing, five sewer tapping, three sprinkler and two zoning permits issued. Seven electric licenses and three single-family detached and 12 single-family attached permits were issued.

Zoners heard the appeal for a variance to construct a fence in a drainage and utility easement at 9675 Crescent Lane, Breinigsville.

The appeal presented by Lauri and Thomas Sweeny was granted.

Andrew Harris presented an appeal for a home occupation at 10204 Trexler Road. The appeal was continued.