Aug 9, 2002 By Joyce Koballa 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE TWP.- The supervisors were unable to accept a petition signed by 97 residents opposed to the opening of an unnamed alley located near a local restaurant after learning from the solicitor that the township’s rights to own the alley expired a number of years ago. The 20-foot alley in question is situated adjacent to Blake Avenue and Kentucky Fried Chicken along Route 119. Supervisors received a request last month to open the alley by Bill and Barbara Ramsey, who own and operate the restaurant.

The couple indicated at the time they would like to have the alley opened in order to provide customers with better travel access to the business.

Gretchen Mundorff, solicitor, said after reviewing various research on the property dating back to 1904, she was able to determine that the township never dedicated and opened the alley. Since that time; however a lot of older documents were destroyed in a fire.

“There was no record it was ever opened and used by the township,” said Mundorff.

Mundorff said according to state law, a municipality has 21 years to open and dedicate an unnamed alley before the ownership rights revert back to the adjacent property owners.

“An agreement is now up to the property owners on what to do,” said Mundorff.

Richard Ohler, who attempted to present the petition, spoke on behalf of his mother, Helen Ohler, regarding a section of her property that is next to the alley. Ohler recalled an agreement in the 1940s about the use of the alley between his father and the owner of the property that houses a car wash along Route 119. However, it was never documented.

In order to resolve the problem amicably, Ohler and several residents in favor of opening the alley agreed to meet with each other to further review the situation.

In a separate matter, supervisors said they were concerned with several documents they received from South Connellsville Borough Council regarding police protection and a brush chipper the two municipalities agreed to share.

Tammy Mader, supervisor, said the township received a copy of a police that was signed in 2001 by both municipalities. Mader said several attempts by Mundorff to reach borough solicitor Richard Bower on the matter have been unsuccessful.

As far as the chipper is concerned, Mader said it is to her understanding that the borough has to provide the Department of Environmental Protection with a written agreement for the usage signed by both municipalities.

The chipper is being donated to the borough and the township under the stipulation it will be shared.

Turning to other business, the township agreed to purchase salt from Morton Salt at a cost of $32.06 per ton.