Residents of the Lenape Mobile Home Park in Washington Township on Deer Run Road will soon have some relief from their septic system woes.

                About 15 properties at the location are experiencing sewage problems, including having sewage backing up into the homes, said Township Manager Chris Bashore.

On Thursday night the Washington Township Board of Supervisors voted to authorize its Engineer/Code Enforcement Officer, LTL Consultants, to enter the property to pump the mobile home park's septic system and to make repairs to the system. 

The township will lien the property for the cost of pumping the septic system and making the repairs, officials said.  It is estimated it will cost between $300 and $500 to pump the septic system.  The cost of repairs, which could be substantially more, has yet to be determined.

Bashore said the issue has been ongoing since the end of last summer, but repeated attempts to contact the property owner/manager by LTL Consultants have been unsuccessful.  Township officials have not released the name of that property owner.

Because the sewage backup is a public health hazard, Washington Township officials say the township has the right to enter the property.  Dan Becker, township solicitor, will obtain an administrative warrant from the local justice of the peace to enter the property and make the repairs. 

Township Engineer, John Weber, said, "It is an unfortunate situation" for the people who live at the mobile home park.

                "We've been dealing with this and increasing our enforcement activity at that particular location," Bashore said Wednesday of the issue.

                Spring Valley Village residents came out in force to the board of supervisors meeting to seek relief high sewer fees.  The present sewer fee is $1,324 per year.  The fee is one of the highest in the state. 

John Wynn and Joe Knoll, both residents of the senior community, respectfully requested the township at least give a "discretionary" $50 per quarter reduction to sewer rate payers.  The reduction would amount to approximately $200 per year.  The reduction could be withdrawn by township officials at any time. 

                Wynn explained the $50 per quarter discretionary reduction was a flexible way to give sewer rate payers some relief without officially reducing sewer fees.  Wynn explained if the township officially reduced fees by $200 per year, and if there were an unforeseen financial problem with the sewer system, the sewer rate would be required to be increased.

                Township resident Robert Baumer said he has been seriously ill several times over the last few years.  As a result of his medical bills, he said he has found it difficult to pay his sewer fees.  Baumer noted between his water and sewer bills he is paying $375 per quarter. 

He told supervisors when an unpaid sewer bill is sent for collection to an outside agency, the collection agency charges 25 percent of the bill.

                There was some tension as other residents of the township who are not connected to sewer noted they are unhappy they must pay for a sewer system they don't use through a 1 mil tax. 

Former Township Supervisor, Tonya Bauer, observed if sewer fees are reduced the 1 mil tax should also be reduced to offset the cost of the sewer system. 

Bauer questioned if a discretionary sewer reduction occurred would the township find it difficult to reinstate the original sewer fee.  The board of supervisors declined to take any action on the residents' suggestions.

Several years ago the township refinanced the $12 million debt that its now defunct sewer authority had acquired.   Washington Township's financial advisors strongly suggested there should be no reduction in sewer fees for several years.  To alleviate some of the sewer authority debt a 2.7 mil tax was placed on all real property in the township regardless whether the property was connected to sewer.  The 2.7 mil tax was removed in 2014.  However, a 1 mil tax that is designated for the sewer debt remains. 

                In other matters, the board of supervisors discussed, but took no action on a proposed water shutoff policy.  Because the township contracts with water companies such as Superior Water to provide water to its residents, the township has the right to shut off water to the property if the property owner has not paid the sewer fee.   Under the Municipal Water Services Act, the township must properly notify the property owner the water will be shut off.  Additionally, the township can lien the property.

                The board of supervisors voted to replace the township municipal building roof with new trusses and a metal roof.  The cost is $74,000.  At the request of neighboring Pike Township, Washington Township will install a "local trucks only" sign at the base of Nanny Goat Hill Road.  Washington Township will request Pike Township pay for the sign that Washington Township will install.

                The board of supervisors announced a Friends For Life 5K Walk/Run will be held at the township's park on June 6.