South Heidelberg Township

South Heidelberg Township is a municipal government serving a residential and commercial community in western Berks County, Pennsylvania. The township administrative offices are located at 555A Mountain Home Road in Sinking Spring, where staff handle general administration, finance and budgeting, sewer billing, planning and zoning matters, organic waste site access cards, and resident service requests. The main office line is 610-678-9652.

Like most Pennsylvania second class townships, South Heidelberg is governed by a Board of Supervisors, the elected body responsible for setting policy, adopting the annual budget, and overseeing township operations. The Board works alongside several appointed bodies, including the South Heidelberg Township Municipal Authority, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning Hearing Board. Each of these groups holds public meetings, and the township maintains a searchable archive of their agendas, minutes, and meeting packets.

Sewer Service and Billing

Public sewer service in the township is administered through the South Heidelberg Township Municipal Authority, commonly abbreviated as S.H.T.M.A. Residents and property owners connected to the system receive periodic sewer bills that can be paid in several ways.

• Online payment by debit or credit card, which carries a processing fee of 2.95% of the bill total
• Check made payable to S.H.T.M.A., mailed to the township office or delivered in person during business hours
• Check deposited in the 24 hour drop box located at 555A Mountain Home Road

To pay online, customers need the account number and PIN printed directly on the sewer bill. Keeping a recent bill on hand makes the process straightforward, and residents who cannot locate their account information can contact the township office for assistance.

Organic Waste Site Access

The township operates an organic waste site for the disposal of yard waste and similar material, with access controlled by a resident access card. Cards are renewed periodically, and renewal invoices include the account number and PIN needed to complete the transaction online. Residents who prefer not to pay online may submit cash, check, or money order by mail or in person at the township building.

Police Department

The South Heidelberg Township Police Department is one of the more notable features of the township's municipal operations, because its jurisdiction extends well beyond township borders. In addition to serving South Heidelberg Township itself, the department provides contracted police coverage to Robesonia Borough, Wernersville Borough, and Heidelberg Township. The department also supplies school resource officer services to the Conrad Weiser School District, placing officers in a direct, ongoing relationship with local students and school staff.

The department is led by Police Chief J. Matthew Hook. This regional service model is increasingly common in Pennsylvania, where smaller municipalities contract with a neighboring department rather than maintain separate forces, and it gives the South Heidelberg department responsibility for a substantial portion of the Conrad Weiser area.

CodeRED Emergency and Community Notifications

South Heidelberg Township has operated the CodeRED emergency and community notification system since 2018. The service is free to residents and delivers messages by phone call, email, or text message. Typical notifications include winter weather and snow emergency updates, traffic and road construction alerts, and announcements about community events.

Residents can register online, or download the CodeRED mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. For those who would rather sign up in person or need help completing registration, township staff provide assistance at the municipal building weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM. Because the system relies on contact information supplied by users, residents who change phone numbers or move within the township are encouraged to update their registration.

Community Connect and Service Requests

For non emergency concerns, the township offers SHTWP Community Connect, a service request platform powered by SeeClickFix. Residents can submit reports online or through a mobile device, describing issues such as road maintenance concerns, drainage problems, or other property and infrastructure matters.

After a report is filed, the system sends an automated confirmation, followed by a status email once the issue has been assigned to the appropriate department or staff member. Requests are then addressed according to priority level and available budget, a transparency measure that lets residents follow the progress of a report rather than wondering whether it was received. Submissions can be made anonymously for those who prefer not to leave contact details, though providing an email allows the reporter to receive updates.

Meetings, Records, and Public Information

The township maintains an online Agenda Center containing agendas, minutes, and meeting packets dating back to 2016. Records are available for the Board of Supervisors, the Municipal Authority, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning Hearing Board, and the archive is searchable, which is useful for residents researching past decisions on a specific property or project.

Financial information is also published for public review. The Board of Supervisors approves an annual budget before the start of each budget year, and the township posts both the full budget document and a Budget at a Glance summary that condenses revenues and expenditures into a more accessible format.

A central documents and forms section gives residents, contractors, and applicants access to township forms, filing instructions, and public records without needing to visit the office in person.

Zoning and Land Use

The Zoning Hearing Board hears appeals of zoning determinations, requests for variances, and related land use matters. Cases that come before the board commonly involve setback questions for garages and accessory structures, subdivision proposals, and parking applications. Hearing agendas and supporting packets are posted in advance so that applicants and neighboring property owners can review materials before a hearing takes place. The Planning Commission reviews subdivision and land development proposals and makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.

Municipal Complex Improvements

Planned work includes a secure, dedicated police entrance, a redesigned parking layout separating patrol vehicles from public parking, new police office space, and renovations to the administrative public entry areas. The project is intended to improve both the security of police operations and the accessibility of the building for residents conducting routine business.

Visiting the Township Office

The township building at 555A Mountain Home Road in Sinking Spring is open to the public on weekdays, with staff available from 8 AM to 5 PM for payments, form submissions, CodeRED sign up assistance, and general questions. A drop box outside the building is available at all hours for payments and documents when the office is closed.