The Lynn Township Board of Supervisors met March 12 for its monthly meeting.

Supervisors in attendance included Brian Deitrich and Ron Jerdon. Fritz Najarian was absent.

During subdivision portion of the agenda, View of the Blue/Peter Knight asked for five waivers as the final step for a subdivision approval for the construction of 12 new houses to be located at 7570 Route 309.

A portion of this property will be used for the subdivision while the other portion of the land will be agricultural/commercial.

A second waiver was requested for a residential lot located in Heidelberg.

Representatives from Frey & Company were present to report on the results of the 2025 Lynn Township audit. Adam Freeby presented their findings.

There was a decrease in fund balance from 2024 to 2025 of 1.56 million to 1.46 million.

2025 saw a $95,000 operating deficit. The deficit is an improvement from 2023-2024. Reasons for deficit are largely due to expenses and revenue declines.

Regarding benefits, Tammy White, township secretary, in an email to The Press March 16, said township health insurance total for 2025 is $212,000 with a total of $31,000 returned in dividends totaling health insurance $181,000.

Township Workers Comp is $9,000. Fire Companies Workers Comp is $47,000. Total for all three is $237,000.

The total number is not just for township employees. A large portion is for the fire companies.

The board of supervisors moved to approve an ordinance designed to raise compensation for future Lynn Township Supervisors to the total amount of $3,145. This does not apply to the current board, only future members. Ron Jerdon commented, “Compensation for members of the Lynn Township Board of Supervisors has not been raised in 25 years.”

New Tripoli Fire Company reported it had responded to 32 emergency calls last month.

New Tripoli is implementing a new harness that can be used to attach to a boat, ATV or snowmobile. This new device will allow rescue teams to conduct multiple type rescues - ice, stranded snowmobiler or water. This harness will be a nice addition to the company’s range of response options.

May fundraising tickets are now available on the New Tripoli Fire Company’s Facebook page.

During the EMC Report Ron Jerdon reported on a special carpentry project he’s coordinating with LCTI to construct a one-sided Smokey the Bear sign to be placed in front of the township building. The students will construct the sign as part of an educational opportunity. The township will cover the material expenses estimated to be $2,118.

Jerdon also mentioned that the new historical society building to be constructed at Ontelaunee Park will cover existing water lines that are run to the lower pavilion. Before this building goes in, he has proposed installing a kitchen and additional bathroom in the lower pavilion. This project would be another LCTI project with the school doing the labor and the township covering the materials.

Ron Jerdon acts as an adviser to the school so he has been able to work closely on these efforts.

The Environmental Advisory Committee Report was given by Ashley Dobak, senior engineer at Barton & Loguidice and head engineeer of the Lehigh County Solid Waste Management Plan.

Dobak presented options for a recycling program where 90 percent of the costs of a township recycling facility would be covered by Act 101, Section 902 Funding. She says new recycling facilities operate in a variety of ways including a fee-based swipe card for Lynn Township residents that allows electronic access 24 hours a day and no labor expenses to a sticker program that requires a person to be on staff during open hours.

Bird Town reported efforts for the organization at Ontelaunee Park will be focused in one specific area of the park - the area at the front entrance of the park to the right side of the driveway to the edge of the stream extending to the culvert.

The first focus of the Bird Town’s efforts will be to eradicate invasive species within the wooded area along the stream and plant natives.

Members of Bird Town will be working with area master gardeners as well as watershed managers.

Residents interested in participating and volunteering with this project are sked to please sign up through the Lynn Township Environmental Advisory Council’s Facebook page. The group meets every other month.

Bird Town has reported Bird Town signs stolen. A police report was filed with Fogelsville State Police March 9. Six new Bird Town signs have been donated by several community members with a sign to be posted at each township ingress.

If anyone has any information on who may have stolen the signs, please contact the PA State Police.

As a result of the Lynn Township Bird Town efforts, the organization has been recognized as a Bronze status member, up from the introductory Green status.

During the road report, Roadmaster Matthew Henderson reported that the Ross Valley Road bridge passed a routine inspection by PennDOT.

His department had the township mowers serviced and they are ready to go for the 2026 season. Road township employees attended John Deere Day and surveyed equipment including a new gang mower.

They attended an educational 811 meeting focusing on digging clearances and other topics. The road crew department received new winter jackets.

Henderson announced that Asphalt Maintenance Service was hired to sweep township roads April 2. Ontelaunee Park will undergo a water test April 16.

Under the Deputy Tax Collector item on the agenda, the board moved to approve Joann Schaeffer as the new deputy tax collector.

At the end of the meeting, Ron Jerdon informed the board that he has been in contact with the president of the Ontelaunee Gun Club to go over a proposal to tap the Local Share Account (LSA) state grant in the amount of $60,000 - $100,000 to install a skeet shooting range.

In December, the president of the club asked Lynn Township to submit this grant to the state on the club’s behalf.

The Pennsylvania state website specifies that LSA grant uses are intended for projects in the public interest. Projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in the community.

Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization.

Jerdon mentioned that some portion of the monies could be dedicated to sound control coming from the club.