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Residents urge Plains Township to address rapid yard flooding, noise and stormwater fees; board to follow up
Summary
Residents raised complaints about rapid yard flooding, requested a noise ordinance and criticized the county/authority-managed stormwater fee; the board said engineers and WVSA mapping work will be pursued and the solicitor warned enforcement is the main challenge for any noise ordinance.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period at the Plains Township meeting on May 14 to press the board on property flooding, neighborhood noise and the township's approach to stormwater fees.
Tom Bridgon of Gail Drive told the board that recent rain sent water into his yard "4 feet" in under five minutes and said an upstream swale has been built up about three feet and filled with debris, a condition he blamed for the flooding. Commissioner Dennis Condusta and Chair Thomas Shubilla said staff had visited the site, the township's engineer would continue to investigate and they asked Bridgon to keep the board updated.
Fran Drozda asked whether the township could adopt a noise or decibel ordinance. Solicitor Menn cautioned that "an ordinance will do no good without conversations on enforcement," noting any new rule would require coordination with zoning and police to be effective. Chair Shubilla said the board would continue discussions.
Kevin Czekalski questioned whether the county and authority approach to stormwater fees unfairly shifts costs to townships and urged the township to ensure storm drains and manhole covers are even with newly paved roads. Chair Shubilla explained the township joined the program in order to meet federal and state requirements and said Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority (WVSA) has been active in mapping and repairs; the board offered to report pavement-related drain issues to PennDOT.
The board recorded these concerns for follow-up; no new ordinances or fee changes were adopted at the meeting.
