Lower Towamensing Township continues to have issues with its garbage collection.

Supervisors Chairman Ron Walbert informed the board of supervisors of the situation on Monday."I had (township secretary) Christine (Wentz) conduct a cursory review of our garbage collections," Walbert said. "We have another large outstanding balance."Walbert said the matter needs to be addressed in a timely manner."I think we need to do something drastic," Walbert said. "I don't think it's fair to those who pay."Based on the fall garbage bills that were mailed out, Wentz said there were 216 delinquent notices out of the 1,111 that the township bills for.At a rate of $125, that means $27,000 is owed to the township.Walbert said the matter would be discussed further when supervisors meet at 7 p.m. on Feb. 8.In September, supervisors adopted a garbage exempt form in order to grant relief to residents on their garbage bills who have unoccupied properties for six months until the unit is again occupied.However, residents must notify the township in writing immediately and request that garbage fees begin as soon as their property becomes occupied.In the event residents fail to notify the township that the property is occupied, and the township finds out by anybody other than that particular resident, they will not only owe the garbage fees from the date that the property becomes occupied, but will also owe the garbage fees from the date of the request and that any exemption granted by the supervisors shall be null and void.That decision came after supervisors in August tabled a motion to grant residents a six-month waiting period to pay their garbage bills on unoccupied properties after it was defeated due to a lack of a second.In July, supervisors said they might make an amendment to the ordinance. That came after supervisors in March agreed to hold residents who are delinquent on their garbage bills accountable by billing them for garbage rates on empty properties.At that time, supervisors agreed that township residents who owed $500 or more on their garbage rates would be sent to the district magistrate. Walbert said at that time the township was owed $31,408 in delinquency bills, and that out of 63 residents who were delinquent on their garbage bills, 18 owed $500 or more.In other business, supervisors:• Agreed to grant Blue Mountain Water Park an extension with the assumption they give the township written notice.• Agreed to give the Aquashicola Fire Company a 28 percent Local Service Tax distribution.• Tabled a request to purchase a new radio for the township garage at a cost of $3,180.• Appointed Gerry Madden as an alternate on the township's planning commission.