(5/21) Liberty Township residents are seeking supervisors’ help to control stormwater runoff.
Several Strausbaugh Trail residents attended May’s board of supervisors meeting after receiving citations from the township’s code enforcement officer, who is employed by Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance. Strausbaugh Trail is a private road and water flows onto Bullfrog Road, a public thoroughfare.
"You legally cannot run water from your property onto your neighbor’s property, period," Supervisor Chair Walter "Mickey" Barlow said.
Barlow agreed that "it is not an easy situation to fix," but noted the code enforcement officer was doing his job. The neighbors said the issue has existed since the homes were built in the 1970s.
A resident suggested the township install a larger pipe under Bullfrog Road. Barlow, who is also the township roadmaster, said engineers determined Bullfrog’s piping system is adequate.
Township Solicitor John Lisko reiterated that the owners of the private roads are responsible for ensuring water does not flow onto township roads.
"They are not public roads, it is really not a township matter," Lisko said.
Barlow suggested the residents explore installing retention ponds in their neighborhood to capture the water before it flows onto Bullfrog Road.
Police Report
Liberty Township Police Chief Sherri Hansen reported her officers worked 225 hours in April. In Liberty Township, the officers answered 19 calls from 911, filed two misdemeanor and one felony charge, and 20 traffic citations. The township also provides 25 hours of coverage per month to Freedom and Highland townships. In Freedom Township, officers issued 17 traffic tickets and 15 warnings. In Highland, they issued seven traffic tickets and two warnings.
Hansen is also seeking funds from the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership to pay for half of a new vest for an officer, which costs about $900-$1200. Hansen said she successfully received a grant from the organization in 2019 and is confident in this year’s application.
Road Report
Barlow reported his department is working to control water runoff on township-owned roads. Road Department employees are improving the ditch system on Wenschoff, Boyle, Bullfrog, and McGlaughlin roads.
The township is accepting bids to improve Wenschoff Road, Old Waynesboro Pike, Pecher Road, Boyle Road, and Sanders Road. Barlow said the township allocated $288,000 to improve roads this year. If bids exceed that amount, the township will determine which roads to prioritize this year.
