Unsuccessful attempts by Whitehall Township officials to have property owners pay their delinquent garbage assessment bills have prompted the township to get tough.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr., in a report to the Board of Commissioners last Monday, noted the township has exhausted all other avenues to collect the money owed for the pickup of refuse by more than 100 property owners, who represent a mix of residential, apartment and commercial real estate accounts. They've already been sent notices and have been assessed late fees and penalties.

"As a result of working together, the treasurer's office and deputy mayor (Jack Meyers) have exhausted avenues of recourse for the payment of delinquent garbage bills," Hozza said. The next step is getting township Solicitor Charles Fonzone involved, which adds to the amounts owed.

"Within the next month, the solicitor's office will receive paperwork for the filing of over 100 municipal liens for these delinquent properties. About 30 percent are repeated offenders," Hozza stated.

The administration estimates more than $100,000 is owed the township by people who just are not paying for the pickup of their garbage. A lot of the accounts show past-due notices, not just from 2013, but also from several previous years.

According to the mayor, the filing of the municipal liens with the Lehigh County Courthouse has serious consequences for the delinquent refuse ratepayers and should not be taken lightly.

One avenue not pursued is to not pick up the garbage from places where the owner is not paying the bill, but that would present a health hazard.

Township commissioners, particularly when involved in setting the next year's budget, grappled with the issue and were unable to come up with a satisfactory solution. What bothers the administration and commissioners is that the unpaid debt involves everyone. The township contracts with a single hauler and pays for all hauling, regardless of whether the property owner pays the bill.

The present multiyear refuse collection contract with J.P. Mascaro & Sons, Allentown, expires at the end of this year. The township will seek competitive bids for refuse collection later this year.