By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

In addition to welcoming new township police officers at their Jan. 4 meeting, Upper Macungie supervisors accepted an ordinance to permit the enforcement of parking restrictions along the roadways within the Laurel Fields development.

Community Development Director Daren Martocci said the development was granted waivers to have narrower roadways in exchange for installing no-parking signs.

He added the ordinance would allow enforcement to become official.

Martocci noted residents and visitors could still park in driveways or parking lots in the development.

Additionally, the board also approved a resolution to adopt the 2021 township fee schedule, which Manager Bob Ibach said was a yearly approval and included no increases to fees.

Ibach said one of the biggest changes to the 2021 schedule was the inclusion of sewer, recycling and refuse fees, noting that over the last months of 2020 township ordinances regarding these services had been updated to remove these fees.

He also noted that the township would not be waiving fees for nonprofits - another change - but did provide a lower fee to help nonprofits put more money back into their organizations.

Under motions, supervisors approved a motion to have Solicitor Andrew Schantz prepare and advertise an ordinance establishing a weigh limit of no more than 25 tons for the Crackersport Road culvert.

The board authorized the liquidation of excess township equipment for 2021, which Public Works Director Scott Faust to receive new equipment and sell off old pieces with the approval of the township manager.

Supervisors agreed to allow the public works department to proceed with numerous capital purchases, starting with a 2021 Ford F350 pickup for $34,692 and an associated snowplow for $8,406.

Faust also noted the purchase of a 2021 Ford F550 chassis for $42,559 and an aerial lift body with mobile lift for a not-to-exceed price of $77,440.

A 2022 Mack Granite GR42FR chassis will be purchased for $135,559, along with a 10-foot dump body for $54,217 and snowplow for $14,205.

Furthermore, a 2021 Case 621G loader will be bought for $162,000, as well as two mowers for a total price of $24,551, and a 2021 skid-steer at a cost not to exceed $85,000.

Under board and staff reports, Recreation and Events Coordinator Lynn Matula reported the township’s spring newsletter would include small amount of advertisements and asked that any interested organizations or businesses contact the township.

Lastly, Ibach said the township had recently started service with a new trash hauler - Whitetail Disposal - and said the company wanted to complete its pickup routes at an earlier time, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

He advised residents to put their refuse carts out the night before to ensure they will be picked up on-time.