Troublesome vacant homes loomed large over Tuesday's Coaldale borough council meeting Tuesday.
Ruthanne Kehl and her husband Ron, of 134 W. Ridge St., pressed council for action on the attached house at 132 W. Ridge. The house, vacant since 2010 when its owner, Lisa O'Brien, was evicted due to unrepaired water leaks, is infested with mold, harbors rats and is filled with abandoned household items, including food. The Kehl's have tried for more than a year to get council to clean out or demolish the house.
The house was finally condemned in April, Ruthanne Kehl said.
She asked council what the next step is, and when it would be taken.
Council members said O'Brien would be served with papers ordering her to either clean up the mess or face court. However, they said, O'Brien could not be found.
Kehl said O'Brien lives on Leisenring Street in neighboring Lansford. She said Coaldale Police Chief Tim Delaney found out the address after pulling O'Brien over at one point.
"She's not hiding," Kehl said.
Council president Susan Solt said too, knew where O'Brien lived, but that "nobody pays attention to me, either."
Ron Kehl said O'Brien's house is a mess, and that groundhogs are breeding under the porch.
The Kehl's continue to be frustrated with the situation.
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