At the June 4 meeting, the South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners considered several key initiatives impacting local residents.

The board discussed a draft ordinance that would place a referendum on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

The referendum would ask voters whether they support an additional earned income tax dedicated to financing the purchase, improvement and maintenance of undeveloped open space areas.

The tax would also be used to retire any debt incurred through these preservation efforts.

The motion was for discussion only and approval was requested to forward the proposal to legal counsel for review.

The board unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing a supplemental agreement with Michael Baker International.

This agreement, the seventh of its kind, covers additional work related to revisions on a farm parcel along the Jordan Creek Greenway Trail, Phase 2 – from Lapp Road to Parkland High School.

The revisions are required due to ditch changes on the farm property. Commissioners also discussed a revision to the township’s pollutant reduction plan.

Officials explained the change is necessary because the township does not own the originally planned basin and must instead install a bioswale on the Davis Smith property.

“This is the plan that we brought before you last month,” Herb Bender, public works manager said. “We had to revise the PRP from the one pond to the Davis Smith property, because we didn’t own that basin.”

The township is currently working with the Lehigh County Conservation District to secure funding that could cover up to 85% of the project cost, with the township responsible for the remaining 15%.

While funding is not yet guaranteed, paperwork has been submitted.

A resolution was requested to adopt the revised PRP plan.

In preparation for a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation traffic signal upgrade at Mauch Chunk Road and Girard Avenue, the township approved a cost-sharing agreement for relocating a water main that currently lies beneath the planned foundation of a new signal pole.

The relocation is necessary to avoid infrastructure conflicts.

The total cost is estimated at $50,083, with the township responsible for $12,520.75 and PennDOT covering the remaining $37,562.25.

The resolution authorizes the township manager to execute the agreement.