Bethlehem Helps Pick Up Hellertown's Garbage

Although the and are often known for , it was the City of Bethlehem that stepped up to help when it recently faced a mini-crisis, Public Works Director Tom Henshaw told Borough Council July 2.

Henshaw said the unusual crisis occurred when both of the department's garbage trucks went down at the same time.

One of the two trucks--which is newer--developed transmission problems, while the other truck developed an air leak while dropping off garbage at .

With both trucks out of service simultaneously, Henshaw, Borough Manager Cathy Kichline and Assistant Borough Manager Tina Krasnansky sprang into action, calling every sanitation department in the Lehigh Valley for assistance.

Ultimately, Henshaw said, it was the city that agreed to send one of its parks department trucks to pick up garbage in the borough on Friday, June 29--a day when the mercury reached a sweltering 96 degrees at Lehigh Valley International Airport.

"They went above and beyond," he told council, adding that the workers willingly sacrificed their regular responsibilities in order to help the borough in its hour of need.

Council decided to send a thank you note to the city in recognition of what its employees did, which Bethlehem's director of Parks & Public Property Ralph Carp called "the neighborly thing to do."

Although there is no municipal garbage collection in the city, the Department of Parks & Public Property has one garbage truck that it uses to collect trash in city parks, at Little League fields and from the receptacles in the two downtowns. After some consultation with other city personnel, Carp decided that truck could be spared for part of one day.

“I don’t think that neighboring municipalities work together enough to help each other out,” he said.

Carp also said he told Henshaw that perhaps the day will come when Hellertown can return the favor.

Henshaw told council that, as of July 2, one of the two borough trucks had already been returned to service.

He said he anticipated that the other truck would soon be operational.