Several residents peppered Walnutport borough council at last week’s meeting with questions about a former garage.

Tina George, who resides on Oak Street, questioned how the borough acquired the 306 Oak St. property, formerly Donald Gogel’s Garage.

In January 2024, council agreed to have the borough take all steps to secure the Gogel property and make sure were no unsafe conditions.

Borough solicitor Michael Corriere told George the property was sold at a sheriff’s sale for outstanding liens.

Corriere added that there was no third party purchaser, so the borough purchased the property.

George asked, “So the seven of you (borough council) decided it would be a good idea to purchase the property?”

“Council didn’t want to buy it,” Corriere said. “Council had to purchase the property by default.”

George then asked about the 400-plus tires on the property.

Corriere said it was a legal nonconforming use, and that the tires were on the property for many years while the business was in operation.

Council President Jen Wentz said the borough has to dispose of tires, according to state Department of Environmental Protection rules.

Property use

George said she attended a zoning hearing recently concerning the property and heard that Habitat For Humanity could be an interested buyer.

The borough was seeking a dimensional variance to construct two homes on one lot.

Corriere said the borough hasn’t received any offers.

“We only offered a double home to them, one lot, two homes,” Corriere said. “We don’t have the answer.”

Corriere said Northampton County previously awarded a grant that the borough could use to demolish the building and remove the tires.

However, he said a condition of the grant is that the property has to be sold to an affordable housing agency, or someone who will agree to buy affordable housing.

George said she’s been told the property is being taken care of, but has pictures where the weeds are 6 feet high in certain sections.

Public Works Supervisors Mike Wentz said he was only directed to take care of the front of the property.

Councilman Dave Stankovic noted there has been debris on the property for the past 10 to 15 years.

Heather Minnich, who lives next door on Oak Street, said that some of the tires are on her property.

Minnich said that she counted over 50 mosquito bites on her at one point.

“I got really sick,” Minnich said. “I thought I was going to die.”

Mike Wentz said an exterminator is at the property every week spraying.

Minnich asked if it was going to take a child dying from getting a mosquito-borne illness, and added it’s a serious health hazard.

Resident Durell DeLong asked why the tires were outside.

“Why wouldn’t you put them inside? Then you wouldn’t have mosquitoes.”

DeLong added, “I’ll personally throw them in for you.”

Jen Wentz said the borough will look into their concerns.

“I would appreciate anything that can be done,” Minnich said. “I don’t want my grandchildren dead.”

George told council, “We didn’t ask you to buy the property.”

Jen Wentz said the borough merely wants to make the property salable.

“We did not want the property either,” Jen Wentz said. “We entered into this because we didn’t have another (option) that was suitable.”

Corriere said a judge said Gogel’s property was in violation and he was shut down.

George said she was told the property can’t be a business again.

DeLong said Gogel continued to run the business until he was kicked off the property.

George said she does not want two homes on the property because she doesn’t like to have neighbors.

Jen Wentz told the residents the borough can take all their suggestions into consideration.