Officials from Lehigh and Northampton counties are pulling the plug on a proposed bi-county health department.

Members of the Lehigh Valley Health Commission voted against creating the department last night.

The commission is made up of Northampton County Council members and Lehigh County commissioners.

Before the vote, some people said the time is not right because of the current economic climate, while others said now is the time to act.

"I think a lot of this is very nice, but I think in many cases people are looking at this with a rather Pollyanna view," said one person.

"I've seen first hand what the results are of not having a county health department. I've walked downtown Bangor. I've done surveys. I've seen the need in many of these people," said another.

Under the proposed 5-year-plan, Lehigh and Northampton Counties would have had to contribute $250,000 in 2011, $500,000 in 2012, and then $550,000 in 2013 through 2015.