County executive reports lightning strike that damaged radio site, efficient system rollover and farmland preservation totals

County Executive Lamont G. McClure told Northampton County Council that a lightning strike on the seminary lower radio site on Cherryville Road in Lehigh Township on Dec. 31, 2024, disrupted radio communications across the county’s Sector 4 and is being repaired.

McClure said commercial power was restored Jan. 3, 2025, the electrical service and panel were replaced, antenna and radio repairs are mostly complete and the county is “approximately 95% complete” with restoration. He estimated the damage at about $40,000 and said the county is responsible for the cost; he added that vendor warranties and contract terms assign some repair responsibilities to vendors.

On county finance and operations, McClure reported that the system rollover to the Tyler Technologies payments and tax system — the year-end conversion preparing balances and tax billing rates for 2025 — completed far faster than prior years. He said the rollover previously required about 36 hours (spread over several days outside business hours) but this year required only about nine additional hours outside normal business hours. He reported no material financial errors in the 2024 closeout so far.

McClure also reviewed farmland-preservation progress. He said the county has preserved “about 260 farms,” putting Northampton County sixth in number of farms preserved statewide, 11th in acreage and eighth in purchase price metrics. A later liaison report in the meeting provided a detailed tally saying 261 farms have been preserved, totaling 19,482.48 acres; the council’s farmland-preservation monitoring and inspection schedule was noted.

Council members asked questions about the radio system’s vulnerability to lightning under the P25 infrastructure standard; Council member Alfredo asked whether the digital P25 system is immune to strikes and McClure answered that it is not immune and that lightning can affect the infrastructure. Members also raised a separate infrastructure concern about damage to a guardrail at a new Willowbrook Road bridge; McClure said the county will seek to identify the responsible party and pursue cost recovery.

During new-business remarks, council members raised a wildlife public-health concern: reports of roughly 200 dead geese in Nazareth suspected to be avian influenza. Council members said they had contacted state representatives and media outlets had reported on the incident; the council urged state engagement because disease control and carcass disposal involve state and public-health authorities rather than county-only authority.

No formal council action on these items was taken during the meeting; the matters were presented for information and follow-up by county staff.