The work to remove the bridge on Route 29 in Pennsburg is proceeding despite utility delays.

            Late last week, crews from H & K began pecking away at the concrete wall along the west side of the bridge, according to Council Member Wayne Stevens.

            "They're starting to do some demolition," he said last week.

            On Tuesday, Council President Diane Stevens announced that issues with utilities delayed work on the project. She said crews waited a week for Comcast to complete its work at the scene.

Wayne Stevens noted the removal of the bridge can't proceed until a natural gas line is removed.

            Crews from Comcast and Verizon, along with H&K, were scheduled to be on site every day this week. Diane Stevens said last week that utility delays were not expected to delay the October completion of the project.

            Upper Perk police Chief Joe Adam announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation rejected a borough proposal to install a scrolling sign at the intersection of routes 663 and 29 alerting commuters that the businesses remain open during the work. Adam said PennDOT officials did not have any signs to spare, and that they would have to spend approximately $8,000 to buy one.

            The members approved a motion to fund road improvements on Dotts Street. AMS, an Emmaus company, will be paid $99,988.75 to repair and resurface the street from Route 663 to Front Street. The work will likely occur this summer, according to Jason Kulp, the borough's roads and maintenance supervisor.

            AMS was the only company to bid for the project, said Wayne Stevens, but the estimate came in lower than expected.

            Plans for Community Day, scheduled for Sept. 9, are underway. Diane Stevens said organizers are considering going back to serving burgers cooked on the grill. Additionally, they hope to add a soft ice cream machine for root beer floats and are considering adding a dunk tank.

            Construction of a tot lot near the municipal building is underway. A dedication ceremony will be held at noon on Saturday, June 10.

            In a move related to the tot lot, the members voted to pay Spear Excavating, of Pennsburg, to repair and repave the parking lot at the building, located at 76 West Seventh St. The payment is not to exceed $12,380.

            Vice President Patrick Suter did not attend the meeting.

            In April, Upper Perk police responded to 836 total incidents. Vehicle investigations accounted for 249 of them, according to information presented by Adam. It states that the officers provided 207 public services, issued 149 warnings, handled 146 traffic details, issued 128 traffic citations, responded to eight reportable and three non-reportable accidents, made three criminal arrests, responded to three false alarms at businesses, and issued one parking ticket or warning.

            The department responded to 12 crimes in the municipality during the month, which included four incidents of shoplifting, two incidents each of assault/harassment/stalking and forgery/fraud identity theft and one each for a narcotics violation, theft, a weapons offense, theft and public drunkenness/disorderly conduct.