Progress continues on the township’s new municipal building, with contractors making steady headway toward a move-in date in early August, according to project manager John Carson at the July 7 North Whitehall Township Board of Supervisor’s meeting.

“We’re getting down to the wiring,” Carson told the board. “You’ll see a lot of activity this week.”

Final landscaping and masonry work are expected to be wrapped up by the end of the week.

Inside the building, only the lobby flooring remains unfinished.

Final cleaning is scheduled to begin immediately and furniture installation was slated to start July 9.

Other infrastructure is progressing as well.

HVAC balancing is underway, sprinkler testing was scheduled for July 8 and installation of owner-procured systems like audiovisual equipment and IT networks is set to begin.

Access control systems, cameras and phones will follow shortly thereafter.

“All the wiring has been roughed in and is close to completion,” Carson said. “The software has been tested off-site and will be installed shortly.”

Carson noted the one significant delay involves the elevator.

Originally scheduled to arrive in May, then rescheduled to mid-July, the installation is now expected in mid-August.

Despite this, he anticipates the building will receive a temporary certificate of occupancy by the end of the week.

“We’re putting contingency plans in place to help the township move back in without the elevator and minimize the impact,” he said.

Public meetings in the new facility are unlikely to occur before late August.

“The systems need time for testing,” Carson explained, citing concerns over incomplete AV and Internet connectivity. “I would hate to see you commit to a meeting and we don’t have all the resources you need.”

Exterior signage on the adjacent public works building will be installed once painting is completed, which was expected by July 9.

In terms of finances, the project remains in good standing.

Originally budgeted at $6.3 million, Carson reported the township is tracking about $200,000 under budget.

Heather Skorinko, a local farmer and business owner, addressed the board of supervisors to request changes to the township’s ordinance regulating craft distilleries in agricultural-residential zones.

Although her project – a farm-based distillery started with her husband and friends – has already received approval from the planning commission and a special exception from the zoning hearing board, she said restrictive conditions attached to that approval threaten the viability of the venture.

Of the 23 conditions imposed, Skorinko said eight are overly burdensome, including limits on hours of operation, noise, seating, parking and outdoor events.

“These restrictions make it nearly impossible to run a successful operation,” she said.

Her appeal to ease them was denied, prompting her to advocate for long-term changes to the ordinance.

Skorinko called on the board to revise the zoning ordinance to make craft distilleries a permitted use rather than a special exception, which she said would streamline the process and support struggling farms.

She cited the Pennsylvania Right to Farm Act, which allows farmers to sell value-added products made from their own crops.

She also urged the board to raise the maximum annual production cap from 2,000 to 10,000 gallons to align with state law, and to reconsider costly tree-planting requirements, which she said would cost over $80,000 and take four acres out of production.

“These changes won’t help us now,” Skorinko acknowledged, “but they could attract healthy competition and help other farmers succeed.”

North Whitehall township residents have rallied around Deborah Weierbach who has launched a petition on change.org calling for the resignation of North Whitehall Township Supervisor Dennis Klusaritz.

The petition now has 488 signers and needs 500.

Many Gene Weierbach supporters came to the July 7 meeting to lend support.

At least 12 attendees spoke during the comments from the floor point of the meeting.

The first two residents urged township officials to reconsider the zoning decision that could force the closure of a long-running home-based auto repair business.

Luke Walters, a South Whitehall township resident and worship director at Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship Church, addressed the board in support of his friend Weierbach, whose request for a zoning variance was recently denied. Citing biblical texts and appealing to the board’s sense of justice and humility,

Walters expressed concern over the impact of the decision.

“It would be a disservice to our community if he’s not able to continue to run his business,” he said.

Sue McGorry, another speaker and advocate for individuals with disabilities, also spoke on Weierbach’s behalf.

She highlighted his role as the full-time caregiver for his adult son, who lives with severe autism and a heart condition.

McGorry emphasized the importance of allowing Weierbach to work from home, describing it as a “necessity, not a luxury.

“Zoning laws are important,” McGorry said, “but they must be applied with compassion and flexibility when the well-being of a vulnerable individual is at stake.”

Following their comments, Solicitor Thomas Dinkelacher clarified the zoning decision was made by the independent zoning hearing board –not the board of supervisors – and any appeal must follow a formal legal process.