By MICHAEL HIRSCH

Special to The Press

Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong spoke at the beginning of the North Whitehall supervisors March 6 meeting.

Armstrong said he was there to answer any questions and give some updates.

He told those attending the meeting he was working on a resolution to have a $150 tax rebate for volunteer firefighters.

“By going to these meetings, just about everywhere in the county people are having problems getting volunteer firefighters,” Armstrong said.

Neffs Fire Chief Jim Steward said they repealed the tax credit in the past and went to a stipend program.

“But our young men are living with mom and dad,” he said.

A percentage of the volunteer firefighters, however, do not own property, so the real estate tax credit would not pertain to them.

Armstrong said he never thought of that and would look at improving the tax credit.

“I learned sometimes just as much by coming here,” Armstrong stated.

Armstrong said there is $2 million in farmland preservation and Lehigh County is fourth in the state, with more than 20,000 acres set aside.

In other matters, the township purchased a conservation easement for farmland located on both sides of Scheidy’s Road, owned by Curtis and Janet Hoffman.

Township Manager Randy Cope suggested the township make two payments or it can afford to pay the entire $109,382.

The board approved making a single payment.

Seth O’Neill delivered his first treasurer’s report, saying the balance is $13,123,754.

He set it up so performance tracks can be seen throughout the year.

The cash flow statements would be posted monthly on the finance page of the township’s website.

“This is something that I think is going to be nice for people who want to see the financial position of the township in a sort of longitudinal fashion,” O’Neill said.

Township building improvements were also discussed.

MKS architects Todd Chambers and Laura Clifton presented the project to the board.

The projected cost is just over $5 million.

Further discussion is needed to determine whether or not the township will be able to continue operations in the building during construction.

“There is still ample planning to be done prior to putting the project out to bid,” Cope said.