Roaming cattle making their way onto his land has become an issue for one Towamensing Township property owner.

George Knight, who owns the property at 210 White Lane, told the board of supervisors on Thursday that they recently received a notice about a violation.

Township zoning officer Carl Faust explained the township received a complaint about the Knights not being able to maintain the animals on their property.

Faust issued the citation several weeks ago, but they continued to show up on the property of Arthur Gillespie, who resides at 1650 Spruce Hollow Road.

That, Gillespie said, is why he pursued the matter due to the cattle that have been on his property and destroying it.

“I have been dealing with this,” Gillespie said. “It got to the point I was getting cow and cattle.”

Gillespie told the board he has probably had anywhere from 40-50 on his property since this began.

After the meeting, Gillespie told a reporter that the most cattle he has had in his yard at one time was nine.

He said their properties are adjacent, and they share a property line, as the Knights have over 100 acres, while he has 35.

“If you’re going to have cattle, they need to be maintained,” Gillespie told the Knights. “You have cost me money, aggravation.”

Faust said that if after 30 days he gets another complaint that they’re still there, then the matter will go to the magistrate.

Township solicitor Tom Nanovic said if it’s a zoning violation, then the township should continue along that line with an enforcement notice.

Board Chairman Guy Seifert said if the matter persists, then they would need to continue to issue zoning violations.

Gillespie told the Knights that he didn’t want it to come to this, but, “it literally got to the point where it got dangerous.”

“Your cattle have done damage to my property,” he said. “I could not continue the damage to go on.”

Carbon County Constable Sal Lizzio, who attended the meeting, signaled out a code that pertains to the trespassing of livestock.

In general, an owner or tenant of an enclosed or unenclosed, improved land in this commonwealth who discovers trespassing livestock shall notify the constable of the township, borough or ward in which the improved land lies. If the constable of the township, borough or ward is unavailable or unable to assist, the owner or tenant shall notify the constable of the county, and the following shall apply:

• The constable shall impound the livestock either with the owner or tenant of the land if the owner, and the tenant if one exists, agrees or with another individual or entity that the constable may deem best situated to care for the livestock.

• All reasonable costs of keeping the livestock shall be part of the costs of care.

Supervisor John Kleintop asked Lizzio if he saw himself having to go back to the property.

Lizzio said he does, as the fence is pretty loose.

Gillespie said he believes the cattle will be back, and asked what could be done about the damage to his property.

“The best thing to happen here is you make friends with Mr. Knight and deal with it,” Seifert said. “We’re doing what we need to do; the best thing is for neighbors to get along.”