Carl Street Residents Fed Up with Potholes

Carl Street residents are fed up with potholes and want North Whitehall Township to repair them, but officials said the homeowners must first form an association because it's a private alley.

"The properties fronting the alley are responsible for maintaining it," Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Steve Pany told several residents who complained to the board at their meeting last week.

Pany said because the street is private, the lot owners must form a legal entity that would recognize their responsibility to maintain it.

"If they do that, maybe the township can provide some fill and chip. We can establish a dialogue."

Marion Snyder, who's lived in the same house for 64 years, complained that large trucks are destroying the street, renters don't seem to care about it and a junkyard on the street that houses wrecked cars is an eyesore.

"It's a disaster. If the founders of Schnecksville had ever foreseen this they'd roll over in their grave," Snyder said.

Another irate resident resident who said he's lived in the township for 43 years said, "You mean the township can't put a truckload of stone down on that alley? I've spent thousands on millings in that alley. I'm not about to do it again."

Pany suggested the homeowners try to get some of the commercial businesses involved because they would probably fund the majority of the repair.

"We'll help you help yourselves," Pany said.

"I think the board would help out a little bit, but the residents have to take primary responsibility for that area. I think they can do it," he said.

Pany said he'd be happy to come out and help facilitate a homeowners association with the lot owners.

"If the majority agree, we can have our solicitor prepare a document," he said.