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Council hears economic development presentations, farmland preservation approvals and update on bridge contractor default
Summary
Council members reported economic development presentations, approved farmland preservation applications adding about 720 acres, and the General Purpose Authority (GPA) reported a bridge contractor in default with outstanding completion items.
Council members reported committee and liaison activity including two economic development presentations, a farmland preservation board decision accepting most 2024 applications, and a GPA update reporting a contractor default on several bridge contracts.
The Economic Development Committee reported two presentations during its meeting: one from the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley and another from the Memorial Library of Nazareth, both described by the council as “fantastic presentations.”
The Farmland Preservation Board liaison told the council the board reviewed and approved 13 of 16 2024 applications for farmland preservation, totaling just over 720 acres. The liaison said the county’s farmland preservation program now lists 19,562.94 acres preserved on 263 farms and named the townships where the newly accepted farms are located, including East Allen, Lehigh Township, Lower Mount Bethel Township, parts of Nazareth, Upper Mount Bethel and Washington Township.
A report from the General Purpose Authority (GPA) noted that the GPA returned a parcel of land on the Dixie property to Mr. Barty and his company, and that the bridge contractor is in default because several bridges have not reached final completion. The contractor’s contract final completion date was listed as December 2024 in the report; the GPA liaison said a number of items remain outstanding, some simple and one that will remain open until April because PennDOT flaggers must be available for the required work.
Council members did not take action on these reports during the meeting; they were delivered as committee/liaison updates.
