North Lebanon Township finishes payments for Jay Street Wall project

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors made the final payment for the Jay Street Wall replacement project at its monthly meeting Monday.

The project, to replace the original 1950 retaining wall that had deteriorated past the point of repair, cost $281,975. Supervisors unanimously approved the final payment of $26,923.75 to Allgyer Enterprises, as recommended by the township engineer.

The project was estimated to cost $325,000 last year, and the township received a $300,000 LSA grant to cover costs. The $18,025 left unspent will be returned to the state.

The cost includes engineering fees generated after the grant was awarded, but not preliminary engineering costs.

Supervisors also heard that solicitor Amy Leonard was working on drafting an ordinance governing data centers. They are required to allow all uses somewhere in the township, Leonard said, but the ordinance will specify what zoning district they are allowed in and place regulations on the use.

As of now, a developer could make the case to put a data center in any zoning district as the use is not addressed by zoning.

Supervisor Ed Brensinger said supervisors recently attended the PSATS conference in Hershey, where data centers were a major topic. He gave an example of multiple data centers proposed in Upper Merion Township, which got ahead of a zoning amendment that planned to regulate them.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of if, I think it’s a matter of when we’re going to have to address it in the township,” said Brensinger. “Hopefully, we’re ready to be able to handle it in the best way we can. They’re gonna get in somewhere, I’ll tell you that, they’ve got more money than God and they’re going to spend it to make sure they get what they want. It’s unfortunate.

“We’ll have to just hopefully prepare for them and hopefully we can make it livable with our residents surrounding.”

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously approved a cable franchise agreement with Verizon following a public hearing. The non-exclusive five-year agreement allows Verizon to be a cable provider in the township in exchange for a portion of earnings. This does not change the township’s existing cable franchise agreement with Comcast.

• Unanimously authorized the purchase of a new John Deer Backhoe from Groff Tracker & Equipment for $165,200 following the receipt of a $160,500 LSA grant to pay for it.
• Unanimously approved the stormwater management plan for a single-family home with a driveway and infiltration trench at 803 Kimmerlings Road, as well as the improvements guarantee agreement and financial security.
• Unanimously approved the junkyard license renewal for Reazer’s Disposal.
• Unanimously approved a tree dedication agreement with Phyllis Casper at Lenni Lenape park.
• Unanimously approved a water line easement with the municipal authority where North 7th Street meets North 8th Avenue.
• Unanimously approved minutes, payroll, and payment of bills.
• Heard police and fire reports.

North Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.