SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS - During Tuesday's meeting, West Mahanoy Township supervisors Chairman Christopher Malocu disagreed with resident Evelyn Andrews who believes the Altamont section is being ignored for road repair.
However, Malocu said in his monthly report that work had been done June 24 in the township village near Frackville.
"The township road program is nearly complete," Malocu said in his monthly report. "Done is Norton Way, Pennsylvania Avenue, Weston Place and West Coal Street. Altamont Boulevard was worked on (Tuesday) with the milling. The weeds along the township roads are being worked on at this time."
Andrews, the only person who attended the meeting, spoke up during the public portion.
"The Altamont is still part of this township, right?" Andrews asked of the supervisors. "The thing that disturbs me is you chided me about missing the April meeting, which is when you were putting out the bids for the road work for Shenandoah Heights, Weston Plane and Brownsville. Did you just forget the Altamont? There are 10 businesses on Altamont Boulevard that benefit this township greatly and you have ignored that."
Andrews also complained about a property in Altamont that is vacant and has high grass around it. Another complaint involved a house trailer parked along Green Street for about two months and a boat parked along Wylam Street for about two weeks. She cited ordinances that contain those violations.
"Does anyone ever patrol to see these infractions?" Andrews asked. "We are part of this township but as long as the money comes from that part of the township, I guess you really don't care."
Township police Chief Shawn Tray was asked about the trailer by Andrews. He answered that the trailer is not parked on the township road but on private property.
"We can't enforce that ordinance if it's on their property," said Tray, who added that the boat is parked on the street.
Malocu said that Code Enforcement Officer Marvin Livergood has been very busy trying to keep up on code violation, with Tray stating the police department would assist him.
"Getting back to the paving, we probably spent more money last year on Altamont roads than we did this year on the road program in the Heights," Malocu said. "The road program in the Heights was road repairs. The only block that was paved was Norton Way. As for everything else, it was just patchwork.
"I beg to disagree with you as far as we, the township supervisors, ignoring the Altamont," Malocu said. "We did what we could on Altamont Boulevard. Yes, it does need to be repaired. I would say that probably next year we'll take a good look at it. And I also disagree with you that it's in such a deplorable condition as you state it."
Supervisor Paul "Pepper" Martin and Malocu agreed with Andrews that the section of the boulevard under the Interstate 81 bridges is in very bad shape, with Martin saying the swampy ground under and around the road will need to be considered for any future repairs that will last.
In other business, the supervisors approved the repository sale of a property at 45 Mount Olive Blvd. in William Penn. However, another property at 84 Weston Place was disapproved.
Malocu explained the reasons why the sale by the Schuylkill County Tax Claim Bureau should be rejected.
"That property (in Weston Place) has a lien on it and the sewer line is not connected, so I recommend that we not approve that sale. We've been after them for years to connect to the sewer line," Malocu said. "I have no objections to the other property."
Martin asked for clarification on the sales and the rejection of the one requested by Malocu.
"They (tax claim bureau) don't want us to take any liens so they can sell them free and clear," Supervisor Maryann Wishnefsky said.
"We need to approve or disapprove that sale at Weston Place," Malocu said.
The vote was unanimous to disapprove.