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Residents tell board of stormwater flooding, sinking yard and feral cat problems; staff pledges follow‑up
Summary
Three residents raised neighborhood issues during public comment at the May 20 Hempfield Township meeting: stormwater problems on Locust Valley Road, a sinking backyard where a private pipe likely needs repair, and requests for an ordinance to address feral cats; staff said they will investigate and begin research.
During the public comment period at the Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors meeting on May 20, three residents described separate neighborhood problems and asked the Board for help.
Philip Mickolay of 125 Locust Valley Road described ongoing stormwater problems along his road and asked the Township to coordinate with state authorities to find a remedy. Austin Erhard, the Township’s director of public works, responded that Locust Valley Road is state‑maintained but that he would pursue a partnered approach and meet with Mickolay after the meeting to discuss next steps.
Paul Allison of 21 W. Hempfield Drive reported that his backyard is sinking along a fence line. He said he received correspondence from engineering firm Gibson‑Thomas indicating repair responsibility lies with the property owner, not the Township. Township Engineer Dan Schmitt said inspectors attempted a pipe investigation during a prior pipe‑lining project, but the location was unsafe for cameras and equipment; the minutes record that property owners bear responsibility for replacing or repairing the pipe.
Karen Russell of 113 Manchester Drive urged the Board to take action on a feral cat problem in her neighborhood and asked the Township to consider an ordinance. Planning Manager Matthew Pernelli told the Board staff has begun research on a possible cat ordinance; no ordinance language or timeline was presented at the meeting.
The Board did not take formal action on any of these citizen requests during the meeting. Directors Erhard and Schmitt committed to follow up with the affected residents and staff indicated further study was under way for an animal control ordinance.
The matter of stormwater on Locust Valley Road, the privately responsible pipe cited at Allison’s property, and the cat ordinance research are unresolved and will require further investigation or ordinance drafting before the Board can vote on policy changes or construction work.
