Heidelberg supervisors vote to advertise paving project, approve solar plan

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Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to advertise the 2026 paving project at its monthly meeting Tuesday.

The township plans to pave Locust Street, North Lancaster Avenue, Michters Road from Route 501 to Old Michter’s Distillery, and Michter’s Road from the distillery to Obie Road. Based on a previous estimate from Pennsy Supply, these roads are expected to be covered by the $240,000 in liquid fuel funds budgeted for road repairs.

Supervisors also agreed to Gravel Hill Road as an add-alternate. The township had scheduled the road’s paving for this year, but removed it from primary paving plans due to cost concerns.

Supervisors will open and award bids at their April 28 meeting.

Supervisor Ivan Martin asked if he could meet with the head of public works Sean Weik to review the condition of township roads and develop a 10-year plan. Weik said he was happy to meet with Martin and any other supervisors on the topic. Supervisor Steve Martin said he expected that the township would soon need to pave Sunnyside Road.

The board also unanimously agreed to advertise this year’s seal coat project for bids. The township plans to apply a seal coat to the township’s dirt roads, which is estimated to cost $59,588.

In other news, supervisors:

• Heard public comment including the following:
  • A request from Tim Hoffman of the planning commission to be able to testify at a March 25 zoning hearing. Supervisors did not take action, with supervisor Paul Fetter saying he would like to allow it and Steven Martin and Ivan Martin saying they would not. Planning commission members are permitted to speak as residents, but not as representatives of the commission. Appellant Dustyn Miller accused former supervisor and planning commission member Ted Cromleigh of unfairly targeting him, and requested the resignation of Cromleigh and Hoffman from the planning commission. Miller also complained about the previous zoning enforcement official and engineer, who were not reappointed this year.
  • Numerous concerns about traffic and traffic enforcement, including speed limits, Jake Brake restrictions, and truck restrictions. Fetter said the township is working with the county to survey Route 897 from the South Lebanon Township line to the county line to address traffic and property damage concerns.
  • A resident voiced concerns about noise generated by late-night trash truck runs, and asked whether the township could regulate them. Solicitor Paul Bametzreider said it was possible, but would rely on the good faith of trash disposal companies as the township does not have an enforcement mechanism. Fetter said he would look into options.
  • A resident criticized the township’s lack of a police force, as Heidelberg Township is served by state police.
• In the township engineer’s report, supervisors:
  • Unanimously approved three waivers and the preliminary plan for the Bear Peak Power solar, a 1.6 MW project spanning 12 acres of a 27-acre parcel on the northwest corner of Old Mill Road and Route 501 as recommended by the planning commission. Waivers concerned the plan’s scale, a traffic impact study (as the plan is expected to generate around four trucks per year), and a sewer and water feasibility study (as the site will not include sewage facilities). Developers are also submitting a decommission bond and a glare study. Developers will likely ask for a final plan approval in four to five months.
  • Unanimously approved a payment of $31,275.91 to Woodland Contractors for the demolition of the interior of the township building.
  • Unanimously approved the Musser lot addition, which consists of a lot line moved and three waivers, as recommended by the planning commission.
  • Unanimously approved a time extension for Copper Ridge Phase Two.
  • Unanimously approved the release of a $2,586 escrow for the Wiegand development, which included an underground stormwater facility.
• Unanimously approved highway/bituminous materials quotes for 2026.
• Unanimously approved an ordinance raising supervisor pay to $3,145 annually, which will only take effect for newly elected or reelected supervisors.
• Unanimously approved a $500 donation to the America250 July 4 event at the Expo Center.
• Unanimously approved a request for Get Outdoors Lebanon, a collaboration between WellSpan Health and the Lebanon County Library System, to temporarily install a post to a tree in the township park.
• Unanimously approved a $5,000 expense for a Juliada waterline replacement after the township recently abandoned and disconnected from that water system. The township has since learned that one home had remained connected to the waterline.
• Unanimously approved sewer line dedication for 234 Millbach Road.
• Unanimously approved a $7,285.82 expense for cellular well controls as phone line well controls will no longer be supported.
• Unanimously approved a request from the state to install 9/11 Memorial Trail signage along a township trail.
• Unanimously approved a request from the fire police to assist with traffic control Palm Sunday.
• Unanimously approved a $20 per month Radio Read data plan.
• Unanimously approved minutes and bills for payment.

Following the meeting, supervisors held an executive session to discuss potential litigation.

Heidelberg Township supervisors meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Due to renovations at the township building, meetings are being held at Schaefferstown Fire Hall, 200 N. Locust St. Meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.