Resident raises blight and unused water‑tower concerns; commissioners promise follow-up

At the public‑comment portion of the Jan. 12 meeting, Anna Bach, a Williams Corner resident, asked commissioners for help with several blighted properties near her home, including an unused water tower she said has been empty for roughly 10 years and properties with abandoned vehicles and debris.

Bach described the sites as lowering neighborhood property values and a public‑health nuisance. "There's a water tower there that is just filthy, full of my fungus and whatever," she said, and recounted attempts to address the matter with the local water company and township officials.

Commissioners and county staff responded that county personnel could address the water tower directly and explained the land‑bank and township zoning pathways for addressing abandoned buildings and yard blight; commissioners asked county staff to meet the commenter immediately after the session to collect addresses and begin follow‑up.

Joel Gross, the county's water resources director, and other staff agreed to meet with the resident after the meeting to review options. Commissioners noted the distinction between county‑owned infrastructure and township zoning enforcement and suggested a mix of county action (for the tower) and township requests or land‑bank remedies (for privately owned structures).