The Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners, during a virtual meeting over video chat May 11, passed several ordinances by vote, including one that authorized the fire department to purchase a Rosenbauer aerial custom ladder truck.

Due to the Home Rule Charter, the fire department must receive authorization by ordinance from the board to make any purchase greater than $25,000. Board President Philip Ginder thanked Fire Chief David Nelson for satisfactorily answering the board’s questions about the cost of the truck.

The board then moved on to resolutions, starting with one that would conditionally approve the development of a 5,000-square-foot warehouse at 3614 Lehigh St.

Before it was put to a vote, Commissioner Thomas Slonaker said he was not satisfied with the developer’s answer as to how tractor-trailers could back in or out of the warehouse lot if needed.

A resident also called in to comment on the development, asking the board if it was concerned fumes from the increased truck traffic could pose a health risk to children at the nearby Bridge 2 Creative Learning Child Care Center. The commissioners did not comment as to whether or not the fumes would be a health risk but said presumably the trucks would follow all EPA guidelines on emissions.

Commissioners Slonaker and Charles Fisher cast the only no votes, so the resolution passed and the development was conditionally approved.

Other resolutions were passed approving land developments at 4124-28 Springmill Road; 1401 Lehnert Road, where Muhlenberg College plans to build new baseball and softball fields; and 2363 MacArthur Road, for a St. Luke’s medical office building.

The board also passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Michael Harakal Jr. to apply for a grant through Lehigh County to secure Community Development Block Grant funds.

In his closing statement, Fisher encouraged township residents to apply for a mail-in ballot for the upcoming 2020 election. He pointed out that most people who volunteer at polling locations are within the age range that is in greatest danger from COVID-19.

“The polls could be a questionable environment for social distancing,” Fisher said, suggesting the less people physically at the polls, the better. He stressed the importance of voting in a democracy.

Commissioner Michael Dee took another opportunity at this meeting to commend the work of Shari Noctor and the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative in feeding mass numbers of residents during this time of uncertainty.

Dee said he has been touched to see just how much people are coming together in Whitehall Township in the face of this crisis.