SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners on Wednesday authorized a plan to buy $1.3 million of upgraded communications gear for first responders through Lehigh County.
South Whitehall will purchase new radios for New Woodlawn Fire Department, Greenawalds Fire Company, Cetronia Fire Company and South Whitehall Township Emergency Management.
Cetronia EMS also will buy new communications equipment through the arrangement; the ambulance company will reimburse South Whitehall for its new equipment.
“The ordinance ensures that the township remains aligned with countywide public safety infrastructure initiatives," Township Manager Tom Petrucci said.
"While securing cost effective financing and upholding its duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and emergency personnel."
Two options to pay
In February, Lehigh County Council authorized county officials to bulk purchase millions of dollars of equipment on behalf of municipal governments. Municipalities then would pay the county back for their share of equipment.
Because some municipalities don’t have enough room in their budgets to fund the whole purchase at once, county commissioners created two payback options.
Municipal governments can pay the county back over five years and pay no interest, or spread payments over 10 years while paying 5% interest.
South Whitehall commissioners voted Wednesday to take the five-year option, and will pay Lehigh County $266,000 per year. Cetronia EMS will cover about $92,000 per year.
To make the loan official, South Whitehall will next issue a general obligation note creating $1.33 million in new debt, which Lehigh County will buy.
Wednesday’s vote authorized township officials to issue the debt.
With the new radios, South Whitehall’s emergency personnel can connect to Lehigh County’s modernized public safety radio system, used by dispatchers and first responders to communicate.
The overall system upgrade will cost $46 million over the next 20 years, according to county estimates.
