Judgment goes against man with junk vehicles

Supervisors will meet with two veterans groups interested in an old building.
HILLSVILLE, Pa. -- Mahoning Township won a judgment against a Garner Road resident who has refused for several years to remove junk vehicles from his property despite repeated requests from the township and the ire of neighbors.
Code Enforcement Officer and Police Chief Jim Morris reported when township supervisors met Tuesday that District Justice John Lamb ruled in the township's favor after a hearing April 18 and gave Ray Hrabos 20 days to clean up the property. Morris said that 20 days has now passed and said he will meet with Judge Lamb today and show him pictures demonstrating that while some clean-up has been done, the property still does not meet the township's standard.
Morris said he will ask the judge to impose a $300 fine, which would go to the township.
Other agenda items
Also Tuesday, Supervisor Chairman Gary Pezzuolo reported the township bought a 1996 Mack truck from a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation sale for $29,250. It replaces a 1981 International truck. The old truck will be advertised for sale along with an old street sweeping broom.
Supervisors also said they will meet separately with two veterans' groups interested in the old school property the township owns in Edinburg, to get details on what the groups would do if the property is deeded to them. The Mohawk VFW Post 267 in Bessemer wants to restore the building and locate their post home there. A local group of veterans, led by Tom Duncan, has incorporated as the Edinburg Veterans Memorial Association indicated interest some time ago in the property where they would like to re-locate a monument from U.S Route 224 and Pa. Route 551 there.
Township Solicitor Tom Leslie warned supervisors they can deed the property to a nonprofit organization for a public purpose but in the future if the group stops using it for that purpose, it automatically reverts to the township and this could be a major problem.
Pezzuolo said a date must be set for requiring tap-ins to the recently-completed North Edinburg water project. The fee is $750. Of 189 homes on the line, only 93 have tapped in, officials said.
He also said a list of roads to be paved this year will be announced at the supervisors' June meeting.