Unkempt properties continue to be a sore spot with residents in West Penn Township.

Supervisor Tim Houser said Monday morning that the township is still receiving a lot of complaints about people cleaning up.

Houser specifically alluded to a property situation in Snyders which he said has been going on for 10 years, while other properties are sitting idle and continue to deteriorate.

As a result, he said the township continues to look into the possibility of adopting the International Property Maintenance Code. The township has a property maintenance ordinance in place, but it’s difficult to enforce.

“I don’t feel it fits really well with the rural agriculture area,” Houser said. “But maybe (there’s) some type of provision in there to protect agriculture.”

Houser said his biggest fear is that (it would be used) to weaponize against a neighbor who someone doesn’t like.

“My biggest concern was protecting agriculture from harassment,” he said. “It isn’t exactly what I want, but when we have a burning house going on close to 10 years, there’s something we have to do.”

Houser added that he believes it will be hard to balance between developments because the township has such a mix of developments and farming.

“We’re trying to address some of the problems we are having, but it’s not an easy situation,” he said.

Township solicitor Paul J. Datte said he will come back with suggestions before the board’s next meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. March 6.

From there, Datte said adoption could then possibly occur at the board’s meeting in April.