The Upper Macungie Township Board of Supervisors discussed the township’s various emergency services departments during its meeting Thursday night.

The board discussed a request for a new communication tower to be built in order to provide better communication between police officers in the field. The request is for a tower costing approximately $115,000 to be built at one of the highest points in the township.

Vice Chairman Samir Ashmar mentioned to the board that this money would be used by January in order for this construction to begin. The board approved this request with little discussion.

The Goodwill Fire Company #1 Trexlertown requested the board pay $4,853.06 for an electrical upgrade in order for the fire company to get an e-power discount on their electric bill, which the Board is currently partly financially responsible for.

The total cost of this project is over $8,000, but the board is not being asked to pay for the project in full. This request was denied.

Chairman Edward Earley mentioned the reasoning behind this denied request was to not play favorites because the board is involved with three fire companies within the township. “We have three firehouses and to pay the bill for one would not be appropriate,” he said.

The board then gave an update on the newly established Upper Macungie Township Police Department.

A new police patch was introduced to the public with a full description of what each portion of the patch meant. The patch includes various conventional elements such as the shield shape and blue color commonly associated with police.  It also has some more personalized symbols such as the Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the center.

Also on the patch is an eagle to symbolize the state’s sovereignty and American patriotism and a barn with farm fields representing the rich agricultural history of the township.

On the bottom of the patch is the police department’s mission: “Committed to Service."

In order to staff this police station, 25 positions have been approved by the board and letters have been sent to various officers in the area requesting their transfer to this new station. The board is awaiting responses from these letters which are due next week.

According to Ashmar, the police station is expected to be open and have officers active in the field by the start of next year.

The board will hold a public budget work session meeting on August 9 at 10 a.m.