Tinicum supervisors approve St. Luke’s EMS partnership – Bucks Round-Up – September 10, 2025
Tinicum supervisors approve St. Luke’s EMS partnership
The Tinicum Township Board of Supervisors last week approved a five-year contract with St. Luke’s University Health Network which will provide emergency medical services. The decision comes after a six-month review of possibilities to obtain such services. Tinicum is thereby no longer utilizing Upper Bucks Regional Emergency Medical Services, whose finances and service consistency have come under the township’s scrutiny. Supervisor John Cole (D), a major negotiator in with St. Luke’s, ascribed the board’s move largely to UBREMS’ daily twelve-hour pause in service to Tinicum and Nockamixon townships over a six-month period.
QCSD moves forward on new elementary school
The Quakertown Community School District has approved plans to demolish the existing Quakertown Elementary School and construct a new facility on the same site. The Quakertown School Board agreed on a $63.7 million budget for the project, moving it into the design development phase. The new building will occupy approximately 62,852 square feet and will be designed to allow for up to nearly students, almost double the current enrollment. Each grade will have four dedicated classrooms, and the facility will include specialized spaces for early kindergarten and special education programs. A notable feature is the cafeteria, which incorporates a spiral ramp to ensure accessibility for students with different physical abilities The demolition of the existing building is scheduled for 2026, with construction expected to be completed by January 2029.
Bristol Borough braces for police union showdown
Bristol Borough Council is preparing for what could become a high-stakes standoff with the police officers’ union as the department’s labor contract nears expiration. Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe said he was surprised to receive a letter from Officer Lapore, president of the Police Benevolent Association, declaring an “impasse” before negotiations had even begun. The letter, dated September 5, requested binding arbitration, a move DiGuiseppe dismissed as premature. “How could there be an impasse when we haven’t even started?” he asked, adding that the borough solicitor will soon propose dates for talks. DiGuiseppe said he plans to push for the sessions to be held in public and broadcast from council chambers, a step he believes would give taxpayers full transparency on both union demands and council’s counteroffers. The current police contract expires at the end of the year. No negotiation dates have yet been scheduled. DiGuiseppe voiced frustration at the union’s posture, pointing to significant recent investments in the department, from a new police station to updated cars, firearms, and equipment.
Middletown moves ahead on firetruck deal
In Middletown Township, supervisors approved a cost-sharing agreement with the Penndel Volunteer Fire Company for a $569,000 ladder truck known as Tower 8. Township Manager Eden Ratliff said the memorandum of agreement will allow Middletown to pay down the truck’s loan balance early, saving several hundred thousand dollars while ensuring joint ownership with Penndel. “This apparatus is essential,” Ratliff explained, noting the vehicle’s dual role in both firefighting and rescue operations from multi-story structures. “As we think about the future of fire service, our volunteers need the tools to respond effectively to emergencies.” The move underscores ongoing challenges for volunteer fire companies, which continue to face rising equipment costs and recruitment hurdles.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
