Chetwin Terrace resident Wayne Kresge is becoming a regular at Bethlehem Township Commissioner meetings. He was there again Aug. 5, for the fourth time since June, to complain about stormwaters coming from William Penn Highway across the bike path and flooding onto his property.

Though Township Engineer Brian Dillman has visited his property, he still needs to determine who owns all the land in the area that needs to be addressed.

"I should have an answer next week," Dillman promised.

Kresge is concerned that the situation is getting dangerous. During storms, as much as eight inches of water are on the surface of the bike path, where they cascade into a ditch and under his deck, 40 feet away. Kresge is worried that, with water moving at 20 miles per hour, someone could be swept away from the bike path and into deeper water.

"I'm tired of my back yard bring a retention pond," he complained after the meeting. He said he and other neighbors are considering a class action against the township.

One of those neighbors, fellow Chetwin Terrace resident Roy Roth, claims the problems started when the township or state replaced a 24-inch drainage pipe with a 36-inch pipe, increasing the flow of water from William Penn Highway.

"We cannot stall this thing," he told commissioners.

Roth had another complaint. Weeds. He noted that vacant properties owned by St. Luke's University Hospital, JG Petrucci and Field of Dreams have waist-high weeds and suggested that crops should be growing there until the land is developed.

Manager Howard Kutzler told Roth that township manpower prevents a weed patrol, but they do respond to complaints, and he is welcome to fill out a form. Kutzler added he could probably find 30 properties in violation of the weed ordinance, but procedures must be followed in fairness to the owners.

"One fellow in a part-time position cannot slay every dragon in the township," Kutzler advised.