Neighbor complains of snakes, high grass

A resident appealed to township supervisors for help with a home that’s awaiting a sheriff’s sale.

While some property owners don’t comply with township code in a timely manner, one home in Carroll Township has been an eyesore for more than a year — and it has created a slithery problem for neighbors.

During a meeting Tuesday, Craig Gaffey asked supervisors if anything can be done about the home that sits at 1320 Country Club Road.

He’s frustrated with the property’s unmowed lawn, which he said has been a problem for more than a year.

“I know you hear people complaining about high grass, but that grass has not been cut since May 18, 2024,” he said. “I took pictures last month, the grass was 42 inches tall. It’s over the fence now.”

The home has been foreclosed on and is up for sheriff’s sale Aug. 1, but the high grass has attracted reptiles that are now making their way into neighboring yards.

“I have lived there since 2012 and I have never had a snake, until now, since April I’ve killed eight snakes,” he said. “That’s not a coincidence. I had one in my dryer vent.”

Gaffey said he has called the company that manages the mortgage, and they have not been friendly or helpful.

“I have called them 25 times, and they hang up on you,” Gaffey said. “I know Jordan (Cooper) is doing his best, but at this point, I don’t know what else to do. Is there anything the township can do to cut it and then lien it? I don’t know who else to call.”

Cooper, the township’s zoning officer, said he spoke last week to Planet Mortgage LLC, which manages the mortgage for the property.

“I brought the situation to their attention, but the initial response was that they don’t own the house, they just hold the mortgage,” Cooper said.

The house was foreclosed on more than a year ago, and the previous owner said he has been advised by his personal attorney to not go on the property to cut the grass.

Planet Mortgage contends it is not responsible for the home until the foreclosure goes through, which will only happen if no one purchases it at an Aug. 1 sheriff’s sale.

If it remains unsold, the bank will take ownership of it after the foreclosure is finalized and would become responsible for property maintenance.

Cooper and supervisors acknowledge the problem.

“The grass is high, and I let her know that anyone that drives past and sees that place is not going to want to purchase it for the price they are asking at the sheriff’s sale,” Cooper said.

He has not heard from the mortgage company since last week and isn’t sure if anything will be done prior to the sheriff’s sale.

“Unfortunately, this is not just an issue here, it’s an issue everywhere,” Chairman Ken Hillman said. “You get LLCs that come in and there’s nobody to go after for citations to be issued. But I get it, we’ve all seen it, we drive past it every day.”

“Well I live next to it,” Gaffey said. “Right, so we understand why you are frustrated and we’re going to continue to work on it. But from our standpoint right now, if we send crews there and someone gets hurt, we are opening another can of worms. So we will discuss it and see if legally there is anything we can do right now.”

Grass and snakes aren’t the only current headache for township residents. Neighbors of a home in the 100 block of Taylor Run Road said they are tired of noise at all hours of the night.

They claim the noise goes all night long, adding that the residents recently put in a large pool that they don’t feel is up to code.

Cooper said he is aware of the pool and the property has been cited, but as far as noise goes any problems should be reported to police. Robert Hart said there are frequent parties, and often the noise from the amount of people and music at the home continue until the early hours of the morning.

Cooper said the township has an ordinance that restricts noise from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. but outside of those hours it is not a violation.

“It’s happening at all hours of the night,” Hart said. “It’s waking me up from a dead sleep and I’m a heavy sleeper.”

“If it happens again, as far as outside normal hours, call the police,” Cooper said. “You can call the emergency line or 911 if you need to.”

Hillman said he will also ask township police to make patrols more frequent in that area.

“I will tell our chief to stay on top of this, and if it continues and they are caught we will start issuing noise violations.”

Also Tuesday, supervisors:

• Authorized the township engineer to bid out Valley Avenue Park Phase II improvements, a storm sewer cleaning and televising project and proceed with design and permitting, if needed, for the Center Lane (between Orchard and Billen) storm sewer.

• Instructed the township solicitor to proceed with an update of the township zoning map, a proposed parking ordinance, “definitions” in the existing township zoning code and to send out certified letters to all businesses in violation of the Business Registration Ordinance 2024-3.

• Accepted the 2024 PUC Act 13 impact fee disbursement of $215,170.

• Approved an invoice from Turik’s Electric for $3,795 to repair electrical work on the de-icing system on the municipal building and service in the maintenance garage.