At its Dec. 4 meeting, Hanover Township Council approved the 2020 budget. The new budget includes the township’s operating budget and a five-year capital improvement plan. The municipal tax rate will stay at a quarter mill, the lowest rate in Pennsylvania.

Included in the 2020 budget, at the request of Director of Public Works Jeffry Mouer, is a proposal for improvements to the D&L Trail. There are several possible grants as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is interested in getting this portion of the trail complete. Public works will make some repairs to the trail before spring, but the majority of the improvements will be coordinated with Catasauqua and Allentown.

D&L Trail representatives are actively working with Wildlands Conservancy to plan the route for the trail. The goal is to have the trail completed by 2022. This section of the trail is the last open gap and, when finished, will allow bikers and hikers access to a 163-mile trail that stretches from outside Philadelphia to White Haven. Mouer plans to have representatives from D&L and Wildlands brief council on the trail. The cost for improving the trail is estimated at $125,000.

Mouer is also looking to start construction on a permanent bathroom facility at Sherwood Park. The permanent facility would be available for use by residents and others who rent the park facilities.

The other major project in the offing is improved street crossing on Catasauqua Road at Valley View Mall. The project reworks the entire intersection and is billed around $525,000. The project was proposed for years but never got off the ground until an Automated Red Light Enforcement grant was approved.

Mouer indicated to council he was advised to apply for this project under a different grant program. Council gave him the approval to move the application. The new grant will require a 20-percent co-payment by the borough. Councilman Bob Heimbecker proposed holding the funds in the 2020 capital improvement budget.

In other action, council approved extending the J.P. Mascaro & Sons contract for refuse by one year.

Douglas White asked council to approve an expansion to the building at 1830 Race St. The present tenant is Castle Building Products. The owner is proposing adding 23,000 square feet of space. White explained the addition would be spec office space. The owner does not have a tenant, and the building would not be connected to the existing building.

Hanover Township Planning Commission approved the expansion at its last meeting.