EMMAUS, Pa.— Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong delivered an early farewell address to Emmaus Borough Council on Monday night.
Armstrong said it's part of an effort to visit municipal meetings up to the end of his term, which is coming at the end of 2025.
"This is my kind of farewell, because I am term-limited, and this is my last year on the job," he said. "I will not be a lame duck.
"I said I'm going to come out to all these meetings, and I'm still going to come out to them, and that's one of the reasons why I'm here tonight," Armstrong said, addressing council.
"I will work right to the day they throw me out."
Funding announcement
The visit also came with a funding announcement — $100,000 to help repair the Emmaus fire tower and make other improvements to the fire department's training grounds, which are used by other fire companies, too.
On that topic, Armstrong said more funding may be in the pipeline, but did not give specifics.
"I'm meeting with the fire chiefs on the 24th of this month," he said. "I've got something up my sleeve for that too."
"What we have here in Lehigh County, the cooperation... is nonpartisan. It's what needs to be done, and we roll up our sleeves and get it done. I've said to you: my goal is to make sure Lehigh County has been put on the map, and we are."Phil Armstrong
Armstrong, who has been involved in Lehigh Valley politics since 2014 — first as Whitehall Township commissioner, then as county executive — spent the first 40 years of his career in education.
He was chairman of the social studies department for the Whitehall-Coplay School District, and served various other roles in the educational sector.
'Here to say thank you very much'
During his speech, Armstrong said he was impressed with politics in Lehigh County.
"What we have here in Lehigh County, the cooperation... is nonpartisan. It's what needs to be done, and we roll up our sleeves and get it done," Armstrong said.
"As I've said to you, my goal is to make sure Lehigh County has been put on the map, and we are."
Armstrong concluded by thanking borough council members.
"So basically, I'm just here to say thank you very much. I really enjoyed the time we've had together," he said.
"We have 12 months to go, and I hope it's definitely as great as the last seven and a half years have been."
Radio chatter
After Armstrong wrapped up, council issued its thanks and asked for further support with funding, specifically with sewer expenses and emergency services radios.
Said Armstrong: "We’re the only county in the state that we're buying the radios for your emergency people. We're going to ask for a nice payment plan, but we're going to give you the time to do it."
But Councilman Brent Labenberg said the 10-year payment plan may not be in line with the lifespan of the equipment.
"The lifespan of the radios are five or seven years," Labenberg said. "It doesn't make sense to take a loan out for longer than the expectancy of the radio.
"That's a predicament that you're putting all the municipalities in. And then on top of that, we'll have to start replacing them while we're still paying for the first ones.
"And we're mandated to do this by the county. We don't have an option. We're forced to do this."
"Well, it's not the county forcing you," Armstrong replied.
"Well, essentially, yes it is," Labenberg said.
"No, not at all," Armstrong replied. "The state says you must go to this system, and we as a county, said, 'We'll try to help you.' We do the buying with taking out a bond, and we'll take the buying part.
"So we're doing this to help you. Without this, you'd be buying those radios on your own, and you'd have to take a loan out."
Armstrong and council eventually agreed they'll "work together with the terms."
