Several residents addressed Palmerton Borough Council on Thursday with complaints about speeding and other issues.

Janis Sylstra, who resides at 568 Mauch Chunk Road, told council she had concerns with the property around her home.

“Speeding is out of control,” Sylstra said. “It’s very scary trying to pull out of Railroad Alley onto Mauch Chunk Road.”

Robert Janco, who resides in the 100 block of Franklin Avenue, also complained that speeding is “getting out of hand.”

“If you want your car totaled, park it on the 100 block of Franklin Avenue,” Janco said. “There’s a school there.”

Council President Terry Costenbader asked Janco to be patient.

“As of Jan. 1, we have a new mayor, a new police chief,” Costenbader said. “We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Costenbader assured Janco they will get something done, one way or other.

Sylstra said the other issue is vehicles going the wrong way on a one-way, and added the wall is falling down.

“The wall is literally collapsing,” she said. “It’s become a huge safety issue.”

Borough Manager Donna McGarry said that Railroad Alley will be done next year.

Sylstra also discussed the water runoff on Mauch Chunk Road.

“The problem is in the winter, it runs down the sidewalk,” she said. “Then we get flash freeze.”

Quality of Life

James Brown, of Lehigh Avenue, questioned council about the borough’s Quality of Life ordinance.

McGarry told Brown the Quality of Life ordinance was updated in November.

“The premise is to try to get people to comply without hitting them with a citation right away,” she said. “That is the intent of that.”

Brown said that for seven years, he’s been asking the borough to get a neighboring property cleaned up.

“Why can’t something be done with it,” Brown said. “It should be removed.”

McGarry said the borough can talk to its code enforcement officer.

Mayor Don Herrmann said there were rats running around the property.

Brown told council he wants to see the issue addressed.

“I’m looking for action because I’m tired of looking at it,” he said.