Walnutport Borough Council has approved radios for its police and fire departments and a tractor with boom mower.

Borough council recently approved the purchase of those items, and also approved a resolution for a new furnace in borough hall.

In 2024, the borough has been awarded just over $1.2 million in grant money, according to borough grant coordinator Michael Wentz.

Radios

Council approved the purchase of 40 emergency service radios for the police and fire departments through statewide Local Share Account grant of up to $200,000.

Last month, the borough received $150,000 to buy the radios for the police and fire departments.

In November 2023, borough public works director Michael Wentz noted that the Lehigh County Communications Center will be changing radio frequencies, which means the borough has to buy all new radios.

He said at that time if the borough wouldn’t receive a grant, to equip the police department alone would cost the borough $130,000.

Wentz said that Diamond Fire Company has to do the same, and added that cost is projected at $240,000.

Wentz said at that time the plan was to apply for a $300,000 grant; of that, $170,000 would be for the fire company and $130,000 for the police department.

Tractor with boom mower

Last month, the borough received $150,000 to replace its old mower.

Wentz said after that meeting that the borough has a 1995 tractor with a 15-foot boom mower that it uses to cut on the canal, and that it’s getting harder to get parts for the mower.

The tractor with boom mower will cost $182,000. The borough has a $50,000 grant from Northampton County pending.

Furnace

Council recently approved a resolution for the purchase of a new furnace in borough hall.

In August, borough council approved resolutions for a Monroe County LSA grant, along with a Northampton & Lehigh County LSA grant, to replace the 70-year-old heating system in the borough building.

In December, Wentz said it would cost $16,000 to update all the heat pumps, and that it would come out of American Rescue Funds.

Wentz said at that time that while the building had temporary heat, a permanent solution was necessary.

Council then on a 6-0 vote agreed to have the borough secretary transfer money out of American Rescue Funds to cover furnace repair expenses and extra police vacation/sick time expenses that were approved earlier in 2023.

Last November, council agreed to have LVR reline the furnace at a cost of $3,800. Wentz said the borough only paid a small portion of that after it was discovered what the exact problem was.

That came after Wentz said the age of the furnace, coupled with the fact inside brick is deteriorating, caused the back wall behind the furnace to crumble and fall in.