Lower Mac Fire Department Benefits From State Allocation

Lower Macungie Township received more than $427,000 in revenue from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania allocation of the Volunteer Fire Relief Association — nearly $200,000 more than what was expected, the commissioners announced at the Oct. 20 meeting.

“It’s great news for us.  We’re very happy.  It’s a one-time deal—it goes to the Fireman’s Relief Fund,” said Bruce Fosselman, township manager.

Ben Galiardo, liaison to the fire department, explained how the money will be distributed and used.  Each fire department that has responded in the township will be allocated an appropriate amount of the money received, and it must be strictly used for safety equipment, not for paying bills, he said. 

Galiardo went on to say the fire departments that respond and assist under a mutual aid agreement include , , Western Salisbury, Trexlertown, and Upper Milford. 

In other business, the commissioners are allowing for the possibility of residences and businesses to desire solar and wind energy as a way of reducing costs and “going greener," according to Fosselman.  It would mean zoning changes, he said, but would permit solar panels and/or wind turbines to be installed on their properties.

Sara Pandl, township planning director, said she has “processed several individual solar panel applications. Mack Trucks is one of those applicants and plans to install solar panels.”

An ordinance would need to be adopted, she said and it would need to be approved by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission prior to the Lower Macungie Commissioners adopting it.

“We don’t expect a lot of people requesting alternative energy, but this way we are prepared,” she said.

Also, the commissioners granted a request from Boy Scout Troop 131 of Wescosville to use the township administration parking lot as a central point to bring food donations Nov. 12 for the annual Scouting for Food program. 

Fosselman read a letter from the troop saying the program is a Minsi Trails Council activity where all the Boy Scout and Cub Scout units in the Lehigh Valley will collect food donations door-to-door that day.  All items will be donated to local food banks.  Last year the council collected over 180,000 pounds of food during this program.

The food collected by Troop 131 will be brought to the township parking lot to be sorted, boxed and loaded onto a truck, and transported to a designated food bank that day.