Bamber Lake residents press for more patrols after weekend fires, dumping and ATV use; township to coordinate with police and state agencies

Residents from the Bamber Lake area told the Lacey Township Committee on Jan. 23 that speeding, weekend fires, dumping and off‑road vehicle use have made the neighborhood less safe and that enforcement and state coordination should increase. Committee members said they will follow up with the police chief, county and state agencies and consider targeted patrols.

Bill Schoenberg, a Bamber Lake resident, listed repeated problems on Dover Road — speeders, weekend fires, illegal dumping and vehicles tearing up fields — and said local patrols have been inadequate. “We’ve been in touch with the police department about getting patrols out there,” he said. Martha Konczal and Wilma Hernandez described repeated late‑night incidents — cars parked outside homes, people on private property and repeated disorderly behavior — and said response times can be slow.

Nut graf: Multiple residents documented repeated nuisances and potential safety hazards in the Bamber Lake area and requested more consistent enforcement; the committee pledged to coordinate with local and state agencies to increase patrols and signage.

Committee response and state coordination: Mayor Carusolo and other committee members said they would speak with Police Chief Schallenberg and urged residents to call 911 for disturbances. The mayor noted ongoing discussions with State Fish and Game and the DEP about Greenwood Wildlife Management Area rules and signage; he said the state will post rules for Greenwood (hours and restrictions) and may participate in enforcement. Committee members said gates exist at other access points and could be considered for problem entrances, and mentioned use of memorandums of understanding among neighboring volunteer fire departments for mutual response.

Public‑works and beach/dam notes: Residents also raised concerns about the condition of the municipal beach at Deerhead/Deer Lake and invasive aquatic plants; the mayor said the township had planned remediation and cleanup and noted an upcoming dam rehabilitation and new pedestrian bridge project estimated at about $5,000,000, for which the township is working with the Department of Environmental Protection on revised requirements.

Ending: Committee members asked residents to continue reporting incidents so police can document patterns; staff will contact the chief and state officials and explore additional patrols, signage and possible gating of problem entrances.