At their January 7 meeting, Commissioners unanimously approved a 5-year lease with Northampton County's District Attorney for a new DUI Center. This will replace one currently in once at Bethlehem's Police Department.
A privacy wall and other minor will be erected, at Township expense, to separate DUI processing from other functions at the building, from Boy Scouts for the youth to the Autumn Club for seniors.
The County will pay $1,000 per month during its initial 5-year lease. That rental will increase $50 per month every year, topping off at $1,450 per month, according to Solicitor Jim Broughal.
Commissioner Michael Hudak complained about the rent, stating it "doesn't seem like a lot." But President Paul Weiss countered that it's more than the Township is getting now. "Currently, we're not getting anything for that building," he reasoned.
Commissioner Tom Nolan added that it's an opportunity for the Township to work with the County. "The County has a need, and fortunately, we have an ability to fulfill that need," Nolan observed.
Northampton County is also eyeing Bethlehem Township as a site for a centralized Human Services Building at 2801 Emrick Boulevard.
Hudak's term can't expire soon enough!
ReplyDeletePerhaps Hudak has a point.
ReplyDeleteWho pays Electric? Internet? Cable? Phone System? Cleaning Service? Water & Sewer? Trash?
Wow Bernie for a county that cries it has no money they sure pay a lot of rent for leasing various places, how about an article on what the county pays rent for and how much they pay for each lease.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you do an article?
ReplyDeleteThats what I figured a smart ass comment.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you sit there and instruct me ... anonymously ... on how to spend five to ten hours of my time. You criticize the work when it is done ... anonymously. You're unwilling to do the work yourself, and call me a smart ass ... anonymously.
ReplyDeletegood article BO right on point. there was a police presence in that neighborhood for years when it was the township building and now BT is generating some income for that building which it currently does not have and brings a police presence back to that neighborhood. if someone wants details get a copy of the lease it is not a secret!!
ReplyDeleteGood Questions 8:07:
ReplyDeleteWho pays Electric? Internet? Cable? Phone System? Cleaning Service? Water & Sewer? Trash?
get a copy of the lease and your questions will be answered!!
ReplyDeleteBT pays everything now for that building and does not get a dime, they are getting revenue and an ongoing use and presence for the building.
ReplyDeleteI hope these buildings are on the bus route? Or at least should be? This is a long walk from Freemansburg Ave and William Penn Highway.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty close to Nancy Run Fire House. My guess is that, once a person is processed, a cab will be called. Nobody will be allowed to walk away bc the County could be held liable if the person was struck by a car on his or her way home.
ReplyDeleteThe defendant will have to be picked up by a responsible party or will be taken by the arresting police department back to their headquarters. Defendants are not let loose from the center on their own. Move on, this is not an issue.
ReplyDeleteWho is the cab company that they are going to use???
ReplyDeleteIs Emerick Blvd any where close to a bus route?
ReplyDeleteFreemansburg should let the county use if for free since they got over $1 million in gaming funds to expand their police headquarters.
ReplyDelete3 AM Troll, I assume you must know that Emerick Blvd sits right on the Easton to Bethlehem bus route, which has buses going bac and forth every hour on the hour, even into the evening. But LANTA will be approached and asked to expand its service, according to what the consultant told Council. Obviously, every effort has to be made to ensure that the consumers can there. If LANTA can't do that, it would probably be a deal breaker. you must know this.
ReplyDelete"Who is the cab company that they are going to use???"
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Onembo can be coaxed into doing it.