Franklin Township approved the following business this week:

• Garbage collection that would normally take place on Monday, July 4, will be done on Tuesday, July 5.

• A motion was made to extend the Declaration of Disaster Emergency that was declared due to the pandemic. The declaration was due to expire June 30, 2022. The supervisors voted to extend it to Sept. 30, 2022. Supervisors Fred Kemmerer Jr. and Robin Cressley voted to extend the declaration. Supervisor Jason Frey voted against it, stating that “there is no more emergency.”

• A motion was made to approve the quote received from the Weissport Municipal Authority to purchase a new pump trailer package with hoses from Axiom Inc. and have Axiom install the diesel pump in the total amount of $86,500. Franklin Township would pay 82% of that amount, or $74,390.

• A motion was made to approve the recommendation from township engineer Michael Tirpak to complete the environmental study status of the Hobby Shop building.

• Franklin Township received a certificate for recycling 12,050 pounds of electronic waste from the April event, compared to last year, when they collected 9,776 pounds. The next recycling event will be held Oct. 1.

• Received a refund check from CCMA from 2020 after they did their billing adjustment $3,022.91.

• Received a letter from the Lehighton Water Authority informing Franklin Township that they will be doing work to replace lead water lines per the Department of Health lead and copper rule. The township will wait to do any paving until the Water Authority replaces the lines. No specific streets or time frame were provided yet.

• A motion was made to approve the request from the Borough of Palmerton to have the Franklin Township Fire Police assist with traffic control during the Pace-Makers Association Rolling Cruise on Aug. 13.

• A motion was made to increase the mileage rate for reimbursement from 58.5 cents per mile to 62.5 cents per mile beginning July 1 to Dec. 31 per the IRS mileage rate increase.

• A motion was made to approve a request from Lehigh Township Fire Company’s Fire Chief, Barry Frey, to have Franklin Township Fire Police help assist with traffic control during the “Back the Blue” Motorcycle ride scheduled for July 30. Franklin Fire Police would assist on Route 248 at the Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge. Back the Blue features over 250 motorcyclists who travel from Northampton to the Half Time Bar & Grill at the Zoo in Lansford.

- James Logue Jr.