Township solicitor Christopher Riedlinger gave a report on a hearing that was conduced regarding Gretchen Funk, a Walker Township resident.

“On Feb. 24, we had our hearings. There were four citations filed under the nuisance ordinance, and one civil complaint filed for the zoning violation. The zoning violation was for goats that they allowed to wander off their property onto other peoples’ properties.

“The nuisance violations were one for junk on the property, one for abandoned or junked automobile, one for having more than one car on the property for restoration purposes, and one for burning tires. The burning tires citation we withdrew at the hearing because no witness was able to testify they saw burning tires on the property. Of the remaining three citations, the District Justice convicted Ms. Funk of two of them, the ones pertaining to the automobiles. She was found not guilty of the one for the junk on the property.

“The District Justice also ruled in our favor on the zoning violation. We were able to establish that there was one day in October, after the notice of violation was served on her, that the goats were still wandering off her property onto the neighboring properties. Because of the two convictions, that was $1,000 each; and on the zoning, $500 plus court costs and attorney fees, bringing that to $845. Between the three things, there’s about $3,000 in fines and costs and fees assessed against Ms. Funk. She has 30 days to appeal.”

Roadmaster report

Roadmaster Chad Felty reported the following:

A bill was submitted for $885.28 to Stork Automotive for repairs to the 550 snowplows. The headlights are now discontinued, so they had to get a whole new system for the trucks.

The township needs to purchase two more truckloads of salt on order to meet the minimum purchase requirement under the contract.

The 550 truck needs repairs, the truck bed needs welding.

The township is looking at purchasing a skid loader, an angle broom, and an equipment trailer. Township solicitors made motions to purchase the trailer up to $7,800 from All Pro Trailer Superstore of Canonsburg; and to purchase an angle broom up to $5,600 from Bobcat of West Fargo, North Dakota. They decided to wait to see if they can get the skid loader through COSTARS, then a motion is not needed.

A motion was made to sell the old skid steer, the broom, and the trailer on MuniciBid.

In other business

• Chief of Police Doug Springer was not present, but Felty advised the board that Springer had received new firearms that had been purchased and was now waiting for some accessories.

The township decided to take an inventory of all weapons and equipment with the police department, to be able to keep track of what they have.

• Christine Troxell was reappointed to the Eastern Schuylkill Planning Board as a nonvoting representative. Supervisor Craig Wagner volunteered to serve as the supervisor representative.

• The township supervisors voted to adopt Ordinance 101-2022 that makes two changes to the nuisance ordinance. For the first change, at present, the fines now range from $100 to $1,000, rather than a flat $1,000 for each violation.

The second change is how a notice letter is delivered.

“This makes it easier to service the notice of violation the ordinance requires by allowing it to be served by first-class mail as opposed to certified mail,” Riedlinger explained. “If the letter does not come back in the mail, the court will presume it was delivered.”

• Memorial Day weekend, the fire company will do a boot drive fundraiser at the corner of Valley and Catawissa roads. The drive will be held May 27-30. Times will be provided later. The township solicitors made a motion to allow it, and the fire company will get approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

On Good Friday, April 15, the fire company will hold a seafood combo dinner, eat in and drive-thru. Price and the times will be set at a later date.