Water extraction remains a hot topic in West Penn Township.

On Tuesday, the township's board of supervisors once again fielded comments from residents who shared differing viewpoints on thecontroversial matter.Resident Art Sterling, who lives along Pin Oak Lane, said he believes those who want to extract water should be responsible for the maintenance of the road.His wife, Tonya Sterling, said she sees nothing wrong with someone wanting to make a living off water extraction.But not resident David Billman, who said he hears trucks "all night long going in and out."Billman said water extraction represents a fundamental change in the way in which residents live, and that it has upset the dynamic of the entire community.He said those who are opposed to water extraction are not trying to be adversarial with the board; but, rather, they want to work with supervisors.Supervisor Anthony Prudenti said water extraction is an issue that only affects a minimal number of residents in comparison to the number of people who live in the township."I look at it as our job here is to do right by the majority of the residents," Prudenti said. "My problem is everybody wants us to spend money on this."Prudenti said, "We're spending money like water.""I'm trying to run this as a business," he said. "We're looking at lawsuits from this side, that side. What's it going to cost us?Billman said water extraction disrupts the quiet, peaceful setting of the township.Supervisors' Chairman Jim Dean said the issue is that the township's zoning ordinance is "antiquated."Resident Eleanor Billman said she realizes that the board has its hands full."It's not a thankful job, but you do it with integrity," she said. "It isn't easy to do the right thing."Last month, supervisors on a 2-1 vote accepted a $6,000 donation from MC Resource Development, the company embroiled in a lawsuit over water extraction.The matter came to light after township solicitor Holly Heintzelman said she received a letter dated May 31 signed by James J. Land Jr. who owns a company that is a partner in MC Resource Development, the existing water extraction operation in neighboring East Brunswick Township, and is president and owner of Ringgold Acquisition Group II LLC at the proposed West Penn site on 1 Fort Franklin Road.In the letter, Land said the check and donation was from MC Resource Development, and not himself, and that it is the result of a promise made to the township roadmaster in 2015. He said that MC Resource Development made a similar donation at that time.Land said the donation is made to the general road fund, and should be used at the discretion of the roadmaster as directed by the board of supervisors. However, there is no requirement that it be used on Kepners Road.On Jan. 13, a group of residents filed a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County against businesses and people associated with water extraction operations in the township. The lawsuit was filed by 30 plaintiffs who live near a pair of water extraction sites, according to their attorney, John Kotsatos, of the Law Offices of John E. Kotsatos in Easton.At the center of the lawsuit is the water extraction site at the intersection of Kepners Road and Blue Mountain Drive, and a newer water extraction site being erected at 1 Fort Franklin Road.Land said the East Brunswick Township site, under the name MC Resource Development Co., has been in operation since around 2002.