Recycling Center Closed Friday 7/4/25 for the Holiday

Bethlehem Township's Community Days Festival runs Wednesday, June 11th through Saturday, June 14th. It's taking place at the Township Municipal Park and run by the Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company. For more information, please visit the Community Days FaceBook Page

***Update: Due to rainy weather yesterday and this morning, the contractor had to change the work schedule. Work will most likely start next week. ***

Advisory: Road Closures / No Parking due to paving - 5/29-6/6/25
Bethlehem Township's contractor, Recon Construction, will begin the cold-in-place road recycling (repaving) project June 29, 2025. This project is weather-dependent and is tentatively scheduled to end on June 6, 2025.
The schedule is as follows:

7th St (Wilson Ave to cul-de-sac) - 5/29
Pheasant Lane - 5/30
Wilson Ave (7th St to Quarry Dr) - 6/2
Quarry Drive - 6/3
Meadow Lane - 6/4
Sculac Rd (Lehigh Ave to Timothy Ln) - 6/5
Timothy Lane - 6/6

No parking signs will be posted and residents are asked to park in their driveways or adjacent roadways during paving.

Asphalt recycling is a two-step process: A base layer is put in place (this coming week). This base layer will cure for several weeks, and then overlaid with a final asphalt top.

Contact Information:
Richard Kanaskie
BT Public Works
610-814-6442
rkanaskie@bethlehemtwp.com

Bethlehem Township is now accepting applications for Full-Time Police Officer.

For more information please visit our Employment Page

Please note Bethlehem Township's yard-waste recycle center will be closed Good Friday (April 18) and Easter Sunday (April 20) but will be open normal hours (10am-3pm) on Saturday, April 19.

Advisory: *Blasting Notice* Blasting operations starting at construction site at Easton Ave./Farmersville Rd. on 2/7/2025.

Rocky Rift Consulting, Inc. along with Holbert Explosives, Inc. and Papillon & Moyer Excavating will be conducting blasting operations as part of the proposed Medical Office Building project located at Easton Avenue and Farmersville Road in Bethlehem Township. The blasting is expected to commence on Friday, February 7, 2025, weather permitting.

The blasting operations will be conducted intermittently Monday through Friday during the daytime hours for several weeks. Residents may notice loud noises or vibrations, which are normal parts of these blasting events. Blasting will be seismically monitored to confirm the blast induced ground vibration levels are within regulatory limits. All blasting operations will be done in strict accordance with all local, state, and federal laws and safety regulations. Any questions, please contact Rocky Rift Consulting at 570-729-0405.

The next regular public meeting of the Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, December 16, 2024, at the municipal building. At the meeting the board will consider adoption of the 2025 township budget.

The budget includes a proposal to increase the township’s fire tax from 0.15 mills to 0.45 mills. This would result in a tax increase of approximately $30 per year for the owners of a property valued at $200,000 (and assessed for tax purposes at $100,000).

Revenue from the fire tax is used for purchases of firetrucks for the township’s two volunteer fire companies, Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company (BTVFC) and Nancy Run Fire Company (NRFC). At its current millage of 0.15 mills, the fire tax would generate $143,000 in 2025 revenues, bringing the fund’s holdings to just under $700,000.

The two companies were scheduled to replace three firetrucks in the period of 2023-2028. This schedule was accelerated several times in the past two years because of the condition of current trucks and the extremely long delivery times (typically 1,000 days from purchase) for new trucks.

The first new truck (NRFC) was purchased in 2023 and the 50 percent down payment of $591,496 was charged to the fire tax fund. The second new truck (also NRFC) was purchased in early 2024 and the 50 percent down payment of $611,931 was charged to the general fund because the fire tax fund had insufficient resources. The third truck (BTVFC) is now scheduled for purchase in February 2025 with the approximate $600,000 down payment scheduled to come from the fire tax fund, which will then be left with just under $100,000 at the current tax rate of 0.15 mills.

Based on the 1,000-day delivery scheduled, the second payments (totaling approximately $1.8 million) on these trucks will be due in 2026-2028.

The proposed increase of the fire tax from 0.15 mills to 0.45 mills would increase 2025 revenues from approximately $143,000 to $429,000. The proposed increase would allow the above-mentioned firetruck purchases to be paid from the fire tax fund without use of cash reserves.

Bethlehem Township is seeking township residents interested in serving on municipal authorities, boards, and commissions. The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to make the following appointments at its January 6, 2025, regular public meeting:

Planning Commission
Two four-year terms expiring December 31, 2028

Recreation Commission
One five-year term expiring December 31, 2029

Zoning Hearing Board
One five-year term expiring December 31, 2029

Vacancy Board
One one-year term, serves as chair

Bethlehem Area Public Library Advisory Board
One three-year term expiring on December 31, 2027

Civil Service Commission
One six-year term expiring December 31, 2030

Municipal Authority
One five-year term expiring January 2030

Environmental Advisory Council
Three three-year terms expiring January 2028

Please note: There are incumbents in many of these positions who will also be considered for reappointment by the Board of Commissioners. Most authorities, boards, and commissions meet monthly; some positions include a modest per-meeting stipend, some are unpaid. If you are interested in serving in any of these positions, please send an e-mail (specifying position(s) of interest), with resume attached, to the following address by December 20, 2024: dbruce@bethlehemtownship.org

Main Street in the Borough of Freemansburg will be CLOSED to through traffic for several months beginning Monday, July 8, 2024 due to construction activities. The closure will affect travel between Bethlehem Township and the Rt. 412 / I-78 /Hellertown area. Construction includes public water and natural gas service replacements and repairs. The construction activities and roadway closure are expected to continue into October 2024.

PennDOT approved road closure and detour plans are being implemented.

Bethlehem Township has launched an online reporting system for stormwater concerns. This form is for Bethlehem Township residents only.

Concerns can include: flooding from creek/stream/waterbody or stormwater system limitations, etc. To report your stormwater concern please click HERE.

To view the Township's process for addressing reported concerns, please click HERE.

Bethlehem Township is in the process of refining its flood mitigation strategy to increase the resiliency of the township during flooding events. Please join us at 7 p.m., Tuesday, September 26 at our public meeting to provide your input on stormwater and flooding issues and learn about the near- and long-term stormwater/flood mitigation projects currently in progress.

Kaitlin Mills and Jonathan Robinson of Herbert, Rowland & Grubic , the Township's stormwater engineer, will be presenting information and receiving public comments at the meeting.

In addition, this meeting will also be held electronically through Zoom or call-in by phone.

When joining by computer or compatible video enabled video/audio device, Select Computer Audio.

If calling in by telephone only, use the provided telephone number, and the meeting ID when prompted. Telephone calls are not toll free, we recommend using 267-831-0333 (Philadelphia). Be aware that data and calling charges are applicable, and to verify with your telephone carrier before calling.

Topic: Bethlehem Township public stormwater meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89634227953?pwd=UmpsRHlpN0dmcUZuV3RRaXozVi9RQT09
Meeting ID: 896 3422 7953
Passcode: 781521

Bethlehem Township is developing an Active Transportation Network to help improve walking, biking, wheeling, and riding transit in the Township. Come share your input on what connections are important to you!

Community Open House will be on Monday, June 5th, 2023 from 6:00pm-7:30pm at the Municipal Building on 4225 Easton Avenue.

You can visit our Active Transportation Plan Page HERE

This event is now scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2023, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., starting on the north end of Fritch Drive.

Please note: Trash bags, gloves, and water will be provided. Please wear comfortable sneakers or boots (no open-toed shoes, sandals, crocs, etc.) All participants must sign township liability waivers. For more information, please contact Brian Hillard at bshillard@outlook.com The "Community Clean-Up," sponsored by the Bethlehem Township Environmental Advisory Council and scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2023, has been postponed due to the forecast of inclement weather. The clean-up was scheduled for 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Fritch Drive (north of Brodhead Road) and the intersection of Highland Avenue and Mowrer Road. A rescheduled date and time will be determined and posted later.

The "Community Clean-Up," sponsored by the Bethlehem Township Environmental Advisory Council and scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2023, has been postponed due to the forecast of inclement weather. The clean-up was scheduled for 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Fritch Drive (north of Brodhead Road) and the intersection of Highland Avenue and Mowrer Road. A rescheduled date and time will be determined and posted later.

What: Bethlehem Township Active Transportation Plan - Public Visioning Workshop
When: Monday, March 6, 2023, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: Bethlehem Township Municipal Building - 4225 Easton Ave, Bethlehem, PA

Do wish you could comfortably walk, bike, wheel, and ride transit to more places in Bethlehem Township? With grant funding through the PA Department of Health WalkWorks Program, Bethlehem Township is developing a township-wide active transportation plan to identify capital projects, policies, and programs to improve safety, increase opportunities for walking/biking/wheeling, and expand transit access. The plan aims to improve community health and expand transportation options by creating safe connections to key destinations throughout the Township.

The Township needs your input to make this effort a success and ensure that the plan represents the needs of your community. There are many ways to get involved and share your ideas, concerns, and priorities for walking and biking in Bethlehem Township:

- Join the mailing list to received project updates and notifications
- Attend a public open house
- Use the interactive map to share highlight potential connections and existing barriers

The scheduled Zoning Hearing Board meeting on February 22, 2023 (this Wednesday) has been canceled due to withdraws of Appeal #01-2023 (9th St) and Appeal #03-2023 (4063 Nazareth Pike).

The Zoning Hearing Board will be having a special meeting on February 15, 2023 at 6:00pm. To view the agenda for this meeting, please click HERE.

The Planning Commission meeting of Monday, January 23, 2023 is cancelled.

Patrons can now make online reservations for Township pavilions starting Monday, January, 16 at 8am. Reservations will ONLY be taken through the Township website. Please visit our Pavilion Rentals page for more information.

ROAD CLOSURE - Wednesday, January 4, 2023 7am until end of day - CHURCH ROAD between William Penn Hwy & Country Club Road. Church Road will be closed for a sewer line installation. Detours will be in place during the closure.