South Whitehall Township commissioners unanimously approved the township’s 2025 audited financial statements Aug. 19 after hearing a report showing a $2.58 million general fund surplus and a clean, unmodified audit opinion.

Megan Thompson of Cherry Bekaert LLC presented the audit results, reporting that township revenues exceeded budget projections by more than 9% while expenditures came in 9.7% below budget. The general fund surplus totaled $2,583,000.

Finance Director Tricia Dicker also presented a review of June 2026 year-to-date financial results and reported no significant variances from expected budget performance.

Residents also addressed commissioners about an ongoing neighborhood dispute involving a Russell Street property. April Stackhouse and several supporters described alleged harassment, camera surveillance and repeated police responses involving a resident of the property. Stackhouse said concerns have persisted despite a recent arrest and alleged cameras had again been directed toward neighboring properties.

South Whitehall Township Police Capt. Steve Brown said a criminal investigation remains active and that additional police resources have been assigned to the matter. He encouraged residents to continue reporting incidents.

Brown also said information suggesting the individual was barred from returning to the property as a condition of bail stemmed from a miscommunication and was not included in the court’s bail conditions.

Questions involving surveillance cameras may include both criminal and civil considerations, depending on the circumstances, Brown said.

“We have the criminal side, and we have the civil side,” Brown said.

Township Manager Tom Petrucci said code enforcement officials are addressing conditions at the property and have filed multiple citations. A hearing has been scheduled.

Petrucci also clarified that the property has not been condemned. Instead, the township has declared it unfit for human occupancy under its property maintenance code.

“It’s still in the hands of the property owner to remediate the issue,” Petrucci said.

He said the owner must correct code violations identified by township officials before the property can again be considered fit for occupancy.

Board President Jacob Roth said township officials will continue pursuing available enforcement options but must operate within the limits established by state law and the courts.

“Where we have the authority to act, we will. Where we don’t have the authority to act, we can’t,” Roth said.

The board also received an update on a proposed South Whitehall Historic Preservation Ordinance. Community Development Director Dave Manhardt discussed the drafting process, including procedures for historic designation and review criteria.

Roth said commissioners expect to review a final draft before moving through the public adoption process.

“We look forward to that final draft of the text of the ordinance, which will then come before us at least two more public meetings for advertisement, sending to various agencies to get comment, and then ultimately down the road a final adoption,” Roth said.