Cardale residents concerned by crime
REDSTONE TWP. – Residents of Cardale raised concerns about several issues this week at the August meeting of the Redstone Township supervisors. Members of the Cardale Neighborhood Watch complained that the township police have not been patrolling in their community. “It’s been two or three months since we’ve seen police in Cardale, and it’s a hotbed again,” said resident Lili Hennessey.
Residents described drug buyers lining up like they were at a fast food drive-through at one area home, and apparently shoplifted items were openly sold from another.
Ralph Rice, chairman of the supervisors, said the township’s full-time officer Norm Howard does make regular patrols, whether the residents see him or not.
“I can tell you by citations and court cases that he’s out there,” Rice said.
Howard arrived at the township building as the meeting ended and said he tries to patrol the area daily.
Lori Costello was upset about a trailer that has been put in next to her home on East Street in Cardale by Habitat for Humanity of Fayette County. Costello said the trailer is more than 30 years old and in poor condition, as well as being less than 10 feet from her property line.
Supervisor Larry Williams noted that the township does not handle its own zoning, and that trailers are permitted wherever allowed by the Fayette County Planning and Zoning office, including in Cardale.
Williams said he would contact Habitat for Humanity about the situation.
The Herald-Standard contact Habitat for Humanity following the meeting. According to office manager Jackie Shrum, the meeting with township officials at the trailer Thursday went well.
“They actually went through it; the floors are solid. We have all the setbacks and met all the codes and got all the variances. I’m a stickler for doing everything by the book,” Shrum said.
Shrum said the nonprofit organization received a variance from the Fayette County Planning and Zoning office allowing the trailer to be two feet closer to the property line than called for in the regulations.
Shrum said one of the volunteers working on the project is an electrician and the entire trailer is getting new wiring, a new kitchen and a new bathroom. There are also plans to replace the windows and doors.
“We don’t have funds, so we can’t build new homes,” Shrum said.
Shrum said the Fayette County chapter of Habitat has already installed three trailers at various sites in the county, with plans for a fourth one. Shrum said the trailers are being donated to the organization, which then makes the necessary repairs.
“They are so much safer than they originally were when they were purchased,” Shrum said.
Shrum said both interior and exterior renovations are planned for the trailer.
“We don’t know how long it’s going to take to get to the outside because the inside is the priority so we can get her moved in,” Shrum said. “This was a quick fix for a family in dire need of getting a home.”