Feb 4, 2005 By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

MENALLEN TWP. – Residents of Florence Drive asked the supervisors for their assistance in repairing a portion of the roadway that collects water and is a sheet of ice during the winter months. Jennie Yauch said that water flows toward the drains, but it passes the drains and forms a large puddle. She said that the supervisors told her the road was owned by one developer, but was maintained by a different developer.

Adding to the water problems is a natural spring that deposits water onto the roadway, she said.

Yauch asked if the supervisors could take over the road and take care of its maintenance, but the supervisors said they could not take the road over until it meets township and state Department of Transportation specifications.

“When they fit out requirements, we take them and we maintain them,” said supervisor Joe Petrucci.

“The township can’t get into building roads for private developers.”

Petrucci said the road owner intended to make repairs to the road, located not far from Route 40, but the contractor he used presented a price that was too high.

Supervisor John Yantko said that the problem has persisted on that road for several years, and a township snowplow was damaged in that area, but the owner has to take responsibility to make the necessary improvements.

Yauch’s soon-to-be neighbor Richard Hickey said the trailer hauling his modular home to a site along Florence Drive had to travel through a neighbor’s yard to place his home because of the ice. Hickey, an Allegheny County native, said he and his wife, Carol, might have reconsidered moving to that area had they known more about the road’s condition.

“It’s a nice area down there, but there are all these little things we’ve found out since we bought the property,” Hickey said.

The residents also were upset that only one fire hydrant, along Meadow Ridge Road, services the entire subdivision. Supervisors asked that the people sign a petition and present it to them at their March meeting asking for hydrants with the understanding that residents within 720 feet of each hydrant pay a fee.

“I didn’t realize you didn’t have hydrants,” Petrucci said. “Everyone down there should want them because it lowers the cost of your insurance.”

In another matter, the supervisors announced that the sewage authority will begin to take action against residents who have not paid tap-in fees since the latest sewerage project was completed last fall.

Petrucci said some people have not made a payment since September, and authority members have said they will pursue legal action and will shut off service to those who continue to ignore their usage fees.

“After two months in arrears, they can have their service shut off,” he said.

“The authority has a big loan payment due in July and has interest payments to make. They have to have their money, and they’re going to get serious about it.”