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Ross Township updates nuisance policy, takes mixed action on property violations
Summary
Trustees revised the township nuisance abatement policy to require photos in violation notices and modernize public notice methods; they approved one vegetation nuisance, tabled or declined others pending zoning and ownership checks.
Ross Township trustees on [meeting date not specified in the transcript] approved changes to the townshipnuisance abatement policy requiring photographs in violation notices and allowing modern public notice methods such as posts to the township website and Facebook page. The board cited House Bill 315 when discussing alternatives to paid newspaper advertisements.
The change was presented by Administrator Lori Cobb, who said the update would "make sure that communications include a picture of the nuisance in question" and would modernize the advertisement process if certified mail is unclaimed or refused. Trustees discussed using the township website and Facebook in place of newspaper notices to reduce cost and speed notice delivery.
Trustees then considered four specific nuisance resolutions. They tabled consideration of a proposed junk motor vehicle nuisance at 4197 Lehigh Road while staff seeks additional information from the homeowner and ownership records; board members said an apparent project vehicle and indications of ongoing property maintenance merited more investigation. The trustees also declined to advance a nuisance declaration for a 9-acre agricultural parcel at 2050 New London Road pending zoning and ownership verification, noting agricultural status may exempt a field from abatement. By contrast, the board approved a nuisance declaration for excessive vegetation at 2108 Hamilton, New London Road, after discussion and a roll call vote.
The board instructed staff to gather additional documentation on the tabled properties and to continue the nuisance list review. Administrator Cobb noted that nuisance complaints were frequently brought to the township by other residents and that updated procedures should help the township document complaints more clearly.
What happens next: The township said it will follow up with property owners and provide trustees with zoning and ownership information before reconsidering the tabled items. No enforcement actions beyond the approved declaration for 2108 Hamilton were taken at the meeting.
