TREVORTON - Pipes have gone dry in six Zerbe Township residences as the township struggles to remain afloat on collecting past due sewer payments.
At Monday's meeting, township supervisors confirmed the property owners had their water shut off last week as part of a collaborative effort with AQUA PA to collect more than $100,000 in delinquent sewer payments.
The six properties that were shut off will be condemned according to building code, which rules buildings without water uninhabitable. Supervisors granted residents of the affected properties ten days after their shutoff date to find other accommodations.
The properties will be visited May 18 by a code officer and a police officer and any residents will be told to vacate the premise. Residents are allowed to return to retrieve personal items, but cannot stay overnight.
This is the first round of shutoffs for the township, but supervisors said the program was already showing success. Nine property owners targeted and notified of the impending shutoff paid off a total of $17,170.20 in delinquencies, said supervisor Michael Mazer.
More than $40,000 has been collected since The News-Item published a list of delinquent accounts in March, Mazer said.
Supervisors agreed to begin the process on customers owing more than $1,000 while reserving the right to dip below this threshold. The first round of shutoffs targeted property owners owing more than $1,500.
The code office and police department will also begin issuing citations for high weeds and grass. Police Chief Robert John said he already aware of six or seven properties in violation of the ordinance and will be sending letters.
Residents are reminded the grass height limit is six inches.
Supervisor Gene Geise was absent from the meeting.
In other news:
- Supervisors added a $50 security deposit to all pavilion rentals that will be returned to renters who abide by the rental rules.
Mazer said the security deposit was necessary because renters have not been cleaning up after themselves and have been breaking other rules. Supervisors polled the approximately 10 residents in attendance for a recommendation on the amount before voting 2-0.
- The Trevorton Community Yard Sale will be held June 6.
- A low bid by Meckley's Limestone Products Inc., of Herndon, to pave sections of street near the foundry was approved at a cost of $44,601.30. Only one other bid was received.
An optional second section of paving will not be completed because no combination of bids for both projects came below the township's $50,000 budget.