Residents Dave Leinbach and Andy Smarr voiced their dissatisfaction during Walker Township's Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday regarding the involvement of their property in the Act 537 sewer project that is currently underway in West Penn and Walker Townships.

Due to poor weather conditions this winter season, the on-site soil and percolation testing is only halfway completed. The two properties deemed appropriate for testing in the Reynolds area, those of Leinbach and Smarr, are among the incomplete.With multiple sites being tested, having a property pass does not guarantee a sewer system will be planned for placement there, but property owners Leinbach and Smarr fear the possibility. Concerns were raised regarding insurance coverage, property value reduction, and the process of compensation.West Penn Township engineer Ron Madison was in attendance to address these concerns and to update the board on the status of the project.Madison hopes that the soil testing can be wrapped up sometime during the first three weeks of March, leaving enough time to organize the plan and complete all necessary steps before the June 30 DEP deadline.Madison encouraged cooperation between all involved parties, stressing the idea that there are many possible scenarios regarding both location and type of system depending on feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Needing to both gather funds and complete the design, implementation would take a significant amount of time, possibly 10 years or never at all.If any property owners fail to cooperate, Madison asked the board to consider enacting eminent domain, reminding them of the fine DEP will enact if the study is not completed.Chairman Craig Wagner expressed his frustration with the lack of communication between the two townships and their engineers. The board hopes that an intermunicipal agreement and joint meeting attendance can help overcome past communication failures.The board passed a motion authorizing Solicitor Michael Greek to work with West Penn Township Solicitor Gretchen Sterns on creating a joint municipal agreement for the project.The board also approved Resolution 7 creating a sewer committee, with Tom Kline and Randall Bensinger serving as volunteers. The board also expressed to residents Leinbach and Smarr that their direct connection to the study might lead to them being asked to become involved.Also, at Thursday's meeting, the board granted permission to roadmaster Eric Leiby to attend the 2011 Municipal Road Maintenance and Safety Symposium in Hershey.Road inspections are scheduled for the morning of March 28.Amity Fence submitted an invoice in the amount of $2,500 for the fence section along the tennis court in Wildcat Park.Bridge repair work began March 2. Stone stabilization work is completed with drilling work on the stone abutments to begin March 7.Solicitor Greek reminded the board that the floodplain variances will need to be updated in the near future to ensure DCD acceptance and properly adjusted insurance rates.The board will discuss the current conditions of the seal coat and surface of the basketball court in Wildcat Park with engineer David Horst.R. E. Pierson is requesting rezoning of a portion of their property in order to construct a new access road in support of their mining activities. Randy Bensinger of the Planning Commission discussed the map with the board and the options of GI zoning and special exception.Under new business, three new bank accounts were approved by the board for grant money placement.The Reading and Northern Railroad Company plans to update the railroad crossing on Wildcat Road during the 2011 construction season. The board passed a motion agreeing to adhere to construction detour requirements provided that the company gives seven days notice.