When Home City Ice purchased the former Nolt's Ice Plant in East Greenville and built a new, higher-capacity facility on the property, increased truck traffic was inevitable.  Now the results are in, though they shouldn't be a surprise to anyone; more trucks, noise and beat-up streets.

            Neighbors have voiced their dissatisfaction with the situation and borough officials, on both sides of the borough line (which runs near the ice plant and distinguishes Washington Street in East Greenville from Penn Street in Pennsburg) seek solutions to current problems and future expenses.  Each side carries the banner of their respective constituents.

            At a recent meeting of East Greenville borough council, attended by members of Pennsburg's roads committee, representatives from Home Ice offered several suggestions as part of their plan to address the issues.

            They didn't have to do anything, but are willing to take measures to become better neighbors.  Their suggestions to put a buffer between trucks with coolers running overnight and re-routing some of the daily truck traffic should help, but probably won't alleviate the problems.  But it's a step in the right direction.  Implementation and their own enforcement of the suggestions are key to working towards a final solution that all can live with.

            Whenever you have municipalities that are contiguous and decisions in one have an adverse effect on the other, disagreements will occur.  Whether or not East Greenville officials should have shared impact study information with Pennsburg officials, or whether Pennsburg officials should have requested information, or whether the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission should have had a voice in the discussion, is hindsight.  File the lessons learned for the next project.

            Now officials on both sides of the borough line need to work together, amicably, to satisfy the concerns of all.

            During discussions, anybody can ask for anything; don't take offense to a suggestion.  Some things may work and others just aren't feasible.  For instance, asking for Home Ice to put up an escrow account to cover road repairs is a suggestion.  At this point in time, well after the plant has been built and in operation, the suggestion probably won't fly – legally.  And, if it did, it's improbable to think that you could have unlimited money in the escrow account for road repairs for the next time, and the next time.

            One's borough ordinances have little (or no) effect on the others right to govern or levy fees in their borough.

            Borough officials, on both sides of the line, need to partner to take a hard look at Washington Street and Penn Street and ensure that the road bed and paving are durable enough to hold up to the current and future use.  Construction in either borough, especially near the borough line, almost always has a temporary effect on the traffic in the neighboring town, but when the building is done the construction traffic goes away – unless the construction created a business or industry that relies on trucks.  So, avoid using the "you did it first" defense – it will only add anger and distrust to the search for a solution.  Officials can choose to shake hands or shake their heads.

            The residents want solutions and results.  They count on their officials to provide leadership and find answers.