Geoff Dean, township engineer with Keystone Consulting Engineers, provided supervisors with an update on the Buckery Road Bridge project at the Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors May 15 meeting.

Dean said unfortunately not too much of an update as far as construction goes on the bridge.

“Baseline Construction mobilized some equipment to this site and they set up some EMS controls but really there hasn’t been much progress made because of the weather,” Dean stated. “The first chunk of the work is for them to excavate for the footings and that phase involves bypass pumping and dewatering and there’s just too much water flowing through there right now for them to get started. They’re going to have to wait until we get a few days or maybe a week of drier weather before they can really make any progress.”

Katie Fabian, administrative assistant, who was filling in for Dawn Didra, township manager, said Didra is still investigating loan bridge options and there will be more information to come on that.

She also reported that Caitlin Mercier, watershed specialist, with Lehigh County Conservation District, had mentioned to Didra about partnering with the township for another grant for a stormwater project on Buckery Road leading up to the Jordan Creek.

“Dawn is looking forward to working with Caitlin Mercier on that after things get more settled with the bridge construction that’s currently beginning,” she stated.

In unfinished business, board discussed the new municipal building site.

Chairman David Fink said he and Kevin Huber, road superintendent and Dean went over some preliminary specs for an architects to put together a building plan.

“If we go out for a grant it’s going to require a certified architect stamp so we put together a list of wants for an architect and Geoff is going to take this information and search around and see what architect might be able to build this and he’s going to come back at the next meeting with some recommendations for us,” Fink stated.

Supervisor Steve Bachman asked “is the size the 128 by 50. The first idea was just 50 by 50 or 60 by 50.”

Fink responded saying that it would take everything out of the cellar.

Under new business, the board approved Allison Hanawalt’s Environmental Advisory Committee resignation.

During the community sign grant request discussion, Fabian said that her and Didra are looking for a local share grant for an electric sign to replace that manual one out front.

“Just to let you know we have a couple quotes coming in and we are going after the Lehigh Northampton County grant. It typically is open July through September each year, so we’re going to keep going after that,” Fabian said.