[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6138693,"mediaKeyId","5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247","parentId",5582269,"title","County executive: $32 million borrowing for parking garage saves $5 million; site testing underway","audioSeconds",79,"startMs",3051000,"endMs",3130000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247&start=3051&end=3130","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247/thumbnail_3051000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6138693/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/County-executive-32-million-borrowing-for-parking-garage-saves-5-million-site-testing-underway","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138693-986cacdd628836097e807549f75ef17b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406749&Signature=L1s9MyLCC3t07bUzeThfPqDGIKNqXQdtdE0jcn5iZQrqM8LIs4Awod7Vk4GMcUohgH3C6gzA20rYXQrBz3m8t7~bG~1aa5dbnfu2aBBvG07nkzbtwTL1fh0ytgxYuUonuvC7cdJInPKpIYeBxO8DEodLiiY1YK2hWdK1EPWCz4cbY1TkGTRoFzdosEYlP~FyYFtcGC-v5aM-ddqhWpsO8u-D7cN~WYm9yh9AYck29pvATFTn6I2JV~o4im5gZJyv2XQZEbg64hECDJ7Du19YYKqRc4GJAhxg7XEwwuMHAnKm55nCcqwxsHSHfsAIT-4LjAk671SaQVmOA2CvaeIP1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-08-14T12:20:46.63Z","article","County Executive Lamont McClure told the council the county recently borrowed $32 million to finance a planned parking garage and P25 radio equipment, and that the county's strong bond rating produced interest savings he estimated at $5 million over the life of the bonds.

\"We borrowed $32,000,000 for the garage and the P. 25 equipment,\" McClure said in his report. \"We were fortunate because our bond rating is the best bond rating in the Lehigh Valley ... We were able to save $5,000,000 in payments over the life of the bond.\"

McClure said engineers were conducting core sampling in the government center parking lot to assess how far down bedrock lies as part of early design work. He said the garage is in the early stages of design and that the administration will share designs and aesthetic examples with council in the near future.

Council member Mr. Heckman asked whether the garage design could be trimmed so a future building could be tied in; McClure said the garage will be designed to accommodate a building if a future council and executive decide to build one.

McClure said he is advancing the garage project so the next administration and council will be prepared to proceed if they choose to accelerate development.

No formal procurement or construction approvals were taken at the meeting; McClure described the financing and early-site work and committed to future design presentations to the council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 7th, 2025 Northampton County Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","County Executive Lamont McClure told council the county sold bonds to borrow $32 million for a parking garage and P25 equipment, saving an estimated $5 million in payments over the bond life; core sampling at the planned garage site is underway and the garage will be designed to accommodate a future building.","taxTitle","Northampton County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2939,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6138698,"Local veterans groups, service providers describe surge outreach and resources at county meeting",1144,534000,1678000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247&start=534&end=1678","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247/thumbnail_534000.jpg","/articles/6138698/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Local-veterans-groups-service-providers-describe-surge-outreach-and-resources-at-county-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138698-b0e5386a3ff04859aab3c8a573a82cb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406749&Signature=EwnQimbkefjfpRd0bFOHf0BZDlg-7m5QpNLS~R4Vp2bEbjH1Lkmzo03haJPSruRpnURowyvvBQsF8vXKYDfn07Ed7cL1DYFNTIP0JcWLs4ItNJ~pLyoe6Ry4X-64QylWJ4WDFc5jV9aQxaOtHld5qiKhAHsG2Mdam3y2h6BlM0QDZ6oXlRVh9MRCStIxSxTBIh0omOmFCEc8vBfstV5zGDtJpCm4g9QQe~DIcex9a6hnxj9vTQJuYcdLaqQLVtdoBt7hSINt17h~jzoS-IWFzbsYQoPGM04WHrAwQRfr~sUxlAhV8JG0JfS3fbQ8kd3awpXlxRICNqC4uz8v3JRmjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several veterans-service organizations and partner groups used public comment time at the Northampton County Council meeting to report on an outreach \"surge\" that identified and assisted unsheltered veterans and to describe ongoing support services available in the Lehigh Valley.

Tom Carson of Victory House of Lehigh Valley told council that collaborative outreach identified 13 unsheltered veterans and that partner organizations helped place two veterans into hotel rooms. He thanked partners including Veterans Brotherhood, Valor Clinic, STR Behavioral Health, Valley Health Partners, Catholic Charities, the Department of Veterans Affairs and local law enforcement.

Freddie Reid, vice commander of the Lehigh Valley chapter of Veterans Brotherhood, described the organization's three pillars: temporary housing for homeless veterans, mentorship (including veterans court coordination) and short-term financial assistance (typically up to about $500 per veteran in urgent cases).

Rich Yaczynski, Grama Committee chair for the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC), explained that LVMAC is a regional collaboration of veterans organizations, nonprofits, businesses and government partners that coordinates services, advocacy and volunteer labor for veterans. He said the surge effort was organized on a shortened timeline and called the event largely successful given the time constraints.

Representatives from Tales of Valor described a nonmedicinal rehabilitation program and service-animal assistance; a program participant described how a service dog helps with nightmares and daily functioning and urged stronger verification standards for service animals.

Ben Yobst and Dr. Ben (first name used in transcript) from the Lehigh Valley Law Enforcement Emergency Services officers wellness group described free services and training they provide to first responders and said they've placed hundreds into treatment and provided wellness training.

Speakers asked council members to accept information for future resource referrals; council staff were asked to collect contact details. No formal county actions or votes were taken during public comment; organizations said they would continue collaboration with county offices and veteran-service partners.","Representatives of Veterans Brotherhood, Victory House, Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council and other local nonprofits described recent outreach locating unsheltered veterans and outlined services including temporary housing, mentorship and nonmedicinal rehabilitation programs.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6138703,"Election administration draws criticism; county executive defends on-demand voting sites",2559,356000,2915000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247&start=356&end=2915","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247/thumbnail_356000.jpg","/articles/6138703/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Election-administration-draws-criticism-county-executive-defends-on-demand-voting-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138703-37fba5a2d892d710bff3a2f4b01c2cf7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406749&Signature=dux7eLUQG82HoUOmeEUGBD8oScIvtHbqJjXB84PXPiS3CQCibJce0IKpzEHJtDLFXb1Ze34n-cDMONSRJMle-MKWhviATFEK4IJ-0WJcX8Dl3DBN2dj3QFl6VTW03IZf07zxV3K0l0OshTfZLXUzFjevvPETZzaqIX4CDYh41AcEuFoyJWTXeeD-P~CeJ~vUuQZJV2xhYUzMzRyZCrwICA-Sc9YaJpfRAmBBZQloX2lUNyKQ1OmlKq1Ibi6oiiSJ5lWxNSEohq8Jrd-PnLOA9ATb5YpD1wehoRtn7nd2GY0IcC5nZeJV2RpLqCpyk2T7akxUn0PS4tjHrfUWTvrqJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Northampton County resident warned the council that the election commission's recent 3-2 vote to pursue on-demand satellite voting locations could expose the county to litigation, and County Executive Lamont McClure defended the commission's action and outlined data and plans supporting on-demand sites.

\"You do indeed face the very real possibility of litigation against the county,\" Glenn Geisinger told council after attending the election commission meeting and urged the council to use its authority to \"put the brakes on this runaway administration\" and stop what he called an \"ill conceived notion\" to place on-demand voting in low-turnout precincts.

Geisinger criticized the plan to place an on-demand site in an area that, he said, had only 44 voters in the recent municipal primary and warned about possible security and disenfranchisement concerns.

County Executive Lamont McClure responded in his report, saying the county examined who used the courthouse on-demand site in 2024 and found more than 7,000 on-demand votes there, \"62% of those people were Republicans,\" which he said showed no partisan motivation for adding sites.

McClure said the South Side of Bethlehem site and a proposed Washington Township on-demand location were intended to improve access and prevent long lines and administrative interference at polling places; he described the action as preparation for the next presidential election and to \"perfect the process.\"

The exchange followed public comment at the council meeting; council did not take formal action on the election commission's decision during the session.

Council members and the executive discussed the matter in the context of election administration; legal or procedural follow-up would be handled by the election commission and county administration.","A public commenter warned of potential litigation over the election commission's 3-2 vote to add on-demand satellite voting sites; County Executive Lamont McClure defended the decision, citing turnout data and plans for additional sites.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6138708,"Resident urges county to reverse ban on photographing public records; executive says petitions will be posted online next year",2674,193000,2867000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247&start=193&end=2867","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247/thumbnail_193000.jpg","/articles/6138708/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Resident-urges-county-to-reverse-ban-on-photographing-public-records-executive-says-petitions-will-be-posted-online-next-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138708-4911b0b0e51f523f48599803145d060c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406749&Signature=ee0nQnP3CXVP7E8OD0GkJzzF5SfWKifEUjjB1OL~8rrQTazPyU0DzX1YkotKZTkZS2GjGGGyRHXxyk97s9woAOUFMiH06V6LbpgcVGEARjZiDDBp1Efx0C2u~fDfDussEKx2K34IuHtF4XlJSHP372Z9OD9mXujBVcQirmguKb04YXEy7hoJn~afG~5AvKnb-7xkpLA9dOMaOvVZoYa~x8cicVwqndOPoSIfFST6PTAaRr6XlsueU42bX6d6Eu-MBVqKL2kB7CVXgIk~st2~2O9FqfNDUddWyFf~-R8bKS4IpoMiW9nG34~ZF5KcJ~3XrFrWSFABApG-XQ3azCbBjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Northampton County resident urged the council to investigate a local policy he described as restricting public access to nonconfidential records and imposing per-page copying fees, and the county executive said the elections division plans to post nomination petitions online next year.

\"The election division, the prothonotary, and possibly other offices in this government center have implemented a ban on photographing public records,\" Matthew Flower told the council during public comment, saying the policy requires members of the public to purchase paper copies at 25 cents per page and, in his view, conflicts with state public-access guidance.

Flower cited \"Pennsylvania law,\" the unified judicial system's public access policy and determinations by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, saying those authorities guarantee the public's right to duplicate nonconfidential records using personal devices where there is no disruption.

County Executive Lamont McClure responded during his report, saying, \"next year, the elections division has a plan to put petitions online the same way we do finance reports,\" and that he would look into fees at the prothonotary's office.

Flower asked the council to investigate the policy as within the council's scope of authority; he emphasized his complaint was about the policy, not courthouse staff.

McClure told the council he would examine the prothonotary office fees and the elections division plan; he framed the online posting of petitions as the administration's response to concerns raised.

Council did not take a formal vote on the matter during the meeting; the matter was raised in public comment and in the executive's report, and the executive committed to follow up.","A resident told council that some county offices are prohibiting photography of public records and charging per-page fees; County Executive Lamont McClure said the elections division plans to post nomination petitions online next year and the prothonotary office will be reviewed.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6138713,"Northampton County Council approves FY2025 HUD action plan, allocates $2.25 million in CDBG funds",39,3653000,3692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247&start=3653&end=3692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582269-77c0f959b542818105aa14a437b92247/thumbnail_3653000.jpg","/articles/6138713/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Northampton-County-Council-approves-FY2025-HUD-action-plan-allocates-225-million-in-CDBG-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138713-1732ad75cef3853ccbc64ed4e3dfb706/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406749&Signature=m~7JfzBdrbys~1bre8H6ilXDhh4-zzUN7Yvkbk5yw-cTZbqtqNtRCWNMPXYGMDvpIH6fIjlsbw9tqQZ~8uB2KTdAp1Qba~4ugJyOgI-Qm7LzvHmX~fb2Mdc-3naLFtpESEwvZB~nccikNjR83Nd47WqZ1ttvXO0ynaxeXqNsAty0URINGdGIMkl9TDP4GsGNZfzFQk03XKyg5XTrxQ-H5RG-KQdEBlssHic~3ko8d7DTcgCYgaAoctiZg79MyLMKMtCxiAU5vaasUvKdznM74szlbJxnDzUrs7lzVmUnM4OWBzNwiRo22ouyWA5iOt7BkVIdcWJLGrcxrmSJjetUZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Northampton County Council on July 2025 voted unanimously to approve the county's Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Action Plan and authorized the county executive to submit required documents to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The resolution, approved by a 9-0 roll call, authorizes the county to seek $2,250,595 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, $649,909.47 in HOME program funding and $197,583 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding for housing and community development activities.

The adopted resolution also authorizes the county executive to execute and file HUD financial-assistance application forms, provide the assurances and certifications HUD requires, and sign related documents on behalf of the county.

Council members conducted a roll-call vote after County Council member Mr. Warren introduced the measure; the motion carried with all recorded members voting yes.

County staff and council committee reports that preceded the vote referenced ongoing CDBG project planning and related committee review; the resolution directs the executive to pursue HUD funding for projects identified in the plan.

The decision allows the county to proceed with federal funding applications and obligate federal dollars for housing, homelessness response and community-development programs in FY2025. Specific project-level allocations and contracts will be handled in subsequent staff reports and council approvals.

Council did not amend the plan during the meeting; next steps are the executive's filing of HUD application forms and any HUD-required follow-up submissions.","The council voted 9-0 to approve the county's FY2025 Annual Action Plan, authorizing County Executive to apply for HUD funding including $2,250,595 in CDBG, $649,909.47 in HOME and $197,583 in ESG funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County executive: $32 million borrowing for parking garage saves $5 million; site testing underway

Local veterans groups, service providers describe surge outreach and resources at county meeting

Election administration draws criticism; county executive defends on-demand voting sites

Resident urges county to reverse ban on photographing public records; executive says petitions will be posted online next year

Northampton County Council approves FY2025 HUD action plan, allocates $2.25 million in CDBG funds