A significant portion of North Whitehall Township's road repair projects has been completed, Township Manager Jeff Bartlett announced at the township's July 7 supervisors meeting.

The completed projects, financed through more than $487,000 in state-provided liquid fuel funds, include double chip-sealing, ultra-thin friction force paving and applying a double coat of microsurfacing on the roads.

Some of the projects still under way are the township's crack-sealing endeavor, the replacement of stormwater pipes, and the paving project on Coplay Creek Road between Sand Spring and Excelsior roads.

"It's actually looking pretty good," said Bartlett of the Coplay Creek project slated for completion by the new school year. "They've taken down an embankment and they're making it look good and doing a nice job out there."

However, the same level of aesthetic satisfaction cannot be said for several abandoned homes overgrown with weeds and tall grass.

"We've had a half-dozen properties where the township had to cut the grass because we've had no contact with the owners of the property," said Bartlett. "In some of the cases, it became a health and safety issue. It wasn't just unsightly.

"It had become somewhat hazardous because of the young kids in the area and the amount of ticks and groundhogs in tight residential areas."

As a result, the township has begun issuing lien notices to the property owners.

For some residents, though, this level of contact was not satisfactory.

Such was the opinion of resident Charles Hoover, who took township officials to task regarding the disheveled state of Shady Lane, where Hoover resides.

Hoover said the road was awash with water, mud and debris.

In response, Vice Chairman Steve Pany said the plan was for the township to provide riprap materials to fill the massively eroded swale draining the road water into the nearby woods, but the labor was the responsibility of two property owners whose land the swale cuts through.

"The property owners have not been willing to provide the labor," said Pany. "[They] are responsible to stabilize that drainage path through their properties."

"I don't see how you feel you have no responsibility for getting rid of that water," responded Hoover.

Pany said he has tried for a year-and-a-half to get the property owners to provide the labor, but no agreement has been reached.

Hoover then suggested that the board send the property owners a letter followed by a fine.

"We don't want to be too heavy-handed," Pany said.

"Why not?" retorted Hoover.

"I'd rather they put their money into fixing the swale," Pany said. "We'll try the diplomatic angle. Hopefully, that works and we won't have to get heavy-handed.

"We only have so much patience, but I'm willing to give diplomacy a try. It's been a year, so maybe we can try some prodding."