With the Coronavirus being in the forefront of the news right now, the is a lot of misinformation going around. In an effort to make the correct and most current information available to our residents, Lower Heidelberg Township will be providing our residents with a single source of information. Along with information just from the Township, we’ll be making available information being sent to us by numerous government agencies, most notably The CDC (www.cdc.com) and the Berks County Department of Emergency Services (www.berksdes.com). For more detailed information the Berks County Department of Emergency Services (www.berksdes.com) should be your main source of information.
Information concerning Lower Heidelberg Township:
ALL DECISIONS ON TOWNSHIP ACTIVITIES WILL BE MADE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
UPDATE: 4/7/2020, 2:35 PM: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following meetings have been cancelled: 4/13/20: Planning Commission Meeting and 4/15/2020: Board of Supervisor’s Workshop.
UPDATE 4/7/2020, 2:30 PM: Click on the following link for “Top Five Facts Residents Need to Know about their Townships During the COVID-19 Outbreak”: COVID-19_Top_Five_Facts_Residents_Need_to_Know_Infographic__3_
UPDATE 4/1/2020, 4:30 PM: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sitting hours at the Township Building for Sharon Boyer, tax collector, have been cancelled. If you have questions, Sharon can be reached by phone (610-670-4644) or e-mail (LHBTax@Comcast.net).
Real Estate Tax payments can be made by:
Mailing check to: Sharon Boyer, LHT Tax collector, 612 Brownsville Road, Sinking Spring, PA 19608. Include check with bill copy. Enclose SASE for return receipt.
Payment can be placed in drop box at Township Building (720 Brownsville Road): Include check with bill copy. Enclose SASE for return receipt. DO NOT PLACE CASH IN DROP BOX.
UPDATE 3/27/2020, 2:30 PM: Today, Gov. Wolf announced that Berks County will be added to his “Stay at home” order. It takes effect at 8PM Friday and will extend through April 6th.
Individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following allowable activities/travel:
- Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home.
- Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maitain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.
- Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running, if social distancing is maintained.
- To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business.
- To care for a family member or pet in another household.
- Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activites or life-sustaining business activities.
- Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.
- Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services.
- Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction.
- Travel required by law enforcement or court order.
- Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth.
- Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel.
The following operations are exempted from the mandated:
- Life-sustaining business activities.
- Health care or medical services providers.
- Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks.
- Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: Child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process: group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders
- News Media
- Law Enforcement
- The Federal Government
- Religious institutions
UPDATE 3/27/2020, 11:44 AM: The Primary Election has been postponed until Tuesday, June 2, 2020
VOTER OPTIONS:
- Vote at your normal polling location.
- Request a mail-in ballot by goiing to Votespa.com.
- Complete a paper application by calling the Election Services Office at 610-478-6490
UPDATE: 3/23/2020, 11:03 AM: During this time of the Township building being closed tax payments may be dropped in the outside mailbox at the walk at the front of the building. Checks/money orders only – DO NOT USE CASH.
UPDATE: 3/20/2020, 2:42 PM: Starting Monday, March 23, 2020, the Lower Heidelberg Township Administrative Office staff will be working remotely, but we will be checking voicemails, our exterior drop box, the regular mail, and our e-mails. The main office phone number is 610-678-3393 and the office e-mail is office@lowerhbtwp.org.
UPDATE: 3/20/2020, 2:40 PM: Trash and recycling services will continue as normal at this time.
UPDATE: 3/20/2020, 12:22 PM: Kraft Code Services will not be working out of the Township offices or their offices at 6525 Shillington Plaza due to Governor Wolf’s order that certain business close at this time. They are suspending any inspection activity, except for emergency situations which will be eveluated on an individual basis. Their employees will be working from home as much as possible; they will continue to answer phone calls (610-775-7185), voicemails, and e-mails. Their website is www.kraftcodeservices.com.
UPDATE: 3/20/2020, 10:16 AM: Due to Governor Wolf’s mandate there will be NO PUBLIC ACCESS allowed to the Township building until further notice. If you need to speak to someone in the office, please call 610-678-3393 (leave a voice message, if necessary) or e-mail office@lowerhbtwp.org. All paperwork and payments may be left in the mailbox at the end of the walkway.
UPDATE: 3/18/2020, 3:45 PM: The Lower Heidelberg Township Supervisors have proclaimed the existence of a disaster emergency in Lower Heidelberg Township in response to the COVID-19 Outbreak. The Proclamation takes effect immediately and will be in force for thirty (30) days.
This proclamation allows for emergency management measures to be taken to reduce the severity of the disaster and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents. It directs the Emergency Management Coordinator to establish and take all appropriate emergency responses. It also authorizes Township officials to act as necessary to meet the emergency response.
UPDATE: 3/17/2020, 03:35 PM: Due to the Coronavirus situation the Township has made the decison to cancel the Easter Egg Hunt for this year.
UPDATE 3/17/2020, 9:40 AM: The Electronic Recycling Center (1316 Hilltop Road, Leesport, PA 19533) will be closed until further notice.
UPDATE 3/13/2020, 3:47 PM: Today, President Trump declared a national emergency over coronavirus. This allows the White House to mobilize FEMA and direct federal aid to those areas hardest hit.
UPDATE 3/13/2020: Today, PA Gov. Wolf announced that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16. The administration will reevaluate at the end of 10 days to decide whether continued closure is needed.
UPDATE 3/13/2020: The Department of General Services has announced that the PA State Capital Complex will be closed to all visitors starting today. Only employees with badge keycard credentials will be permitted onto the premises. Information received from Senator David Argall’s Office.
UPDATE 3/13/2020: The Board of Supervisors March Meeting scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2020 has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.
UPDATE March 12, 2020: The Berks County Commissioners declare a Disaster Emergency, effective immediately, in light of the growing concerns about coronavirus in the County of Berks.
UPDATE March 6, 2020: PA Gov. Wolf declares a Disaster Emergency for Pennsylvania in light of the growing concerns about coronavirus in the Commonwealth of Pennsylania.
Literature from the CDC and The Berks Department of Emergency Services:
SICK WITH 2019 nCoV FACT SHEET