Coplay Borough and its public works department celebrated the official opening of its new public works building June 4 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at the Bridge Street site.

The certificate of occupancy was issued in December, and the department started moving in and conducting business at that time.

Attending the event were members of borough council, Mayor Steve Burker, public works Director Paul Boyle, Lehigh County Sheriff Joe Hanna, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, Magisterial District Judge Todd Heffelfinger and Gavin McManaman of Acela Architects and Engineers. Coplay residents were also on hand for the ceremony and to tour the facility.

Boyle, Burker and council President Lou Bodish each said a few words of thanks and praise for those involved in the funding and completion of the project.

The finished building has 15,500 square feet of usable space. There are eight truck bays to keep the entire fleet of trucks in one location, with plenty of room for expansion. There is a reception desk area, two offices, a break room, conference room and large second-floor storage loft.

The $2.75 million building was funded through some small grants, with the remaining amount funded by the borough.

The new building on Bridge Street is on the site of the former General Supply business. The land was purchased by the borough seven years ago.

Now that the public works building is complete, planning will begin for other facilities on the property. A recycling center will most likely be the next to be completed, after funding is obtained.