During public comment at last night’s Antis Township meeting, Crystal Himes told the board she was concerned about the swimming hole near the Dollar General.
She explained that between 4 and 7:30 p.m. people gather near the swimming hole, parking their cars along the road and blocking traffic. There is also trash along the road, problems with four-wheelers and homes being vandalized. Himes said she even witnessed an accident involving a vehicle’s mirror hitting a child who was walking along the road.
Himes said a lot of the people coming down to the swimming hole are from the Altoona area.
“They even undress along the road on their way down to the water,” she said, “and that’s a concern when you have young children.”
Previously, the township placed no parking signs along Grandview Road, but Himes said the signs are, so far, ineffective. She said she has contacted the state police on many occasions but they are understaffed and aren’t always able to send someone.
Manager Jeff Ziegler said he will contact the state police, “We do have an ordinance to prohibit parking along the road.”
“We can follow up with them and let them know we have an enforceable ordinance now and we want them to enforce it,” said Supervisor Charles Taylor.
In other business, PennDot is currently surveying and drilling holes as plans for a new bridge on Grandview Road to Bells Gap get under way. The bridge is expected to be completed next year.
A list was compiled of seven bridges in the township to be upgraded.
Also, the township has been approved for a grant for stormwater management at the Wolf’s Furniture building. The grant will help take care of water run off from Cambria, Laurel and Pine Streets.
The board approved the sale of equipment that is no longer used by the township. Among the equipment is a small paver, air compressor and a sweeper. Also for sale will be 13-inch pipe that is no longer needed.
Supervisors also approved $51,183.38 for a 2006 F550 Ford truck that was purchased with the equipment fund. The truck is an addition to the township, rather than a replacement.
A new ordinance enforcement officer was hired at the union wage of $13.11 an hour.
Also approved were minor subdivisions for Tom Decker and Jim Decker, Sr. The subdivisions involve moving a lot line, making one lot larger and one smaller. There are no new buildings or public facilities contemplated on either property.
A minor subdivision was also granted to Josephine Peyton, on North 5th Street, to combine two lots into one in order to build a single family dwelling.
After problems with the townships nuisance/noise ordinance were brought up by residents last month, the supervisors agreed to set up a workshop on August 10 to reexamine the ordinance.
“I don’t feel that government should step in between these types of disputes between neighbors,” said Taylor, who previously voted against the ordinance.
Ziegler said nuisance ordinances are hard to enforce in general because two things need to happen. First a violation of the ordinance must occur and then someone must consider it a nuisance.
