Yatesville OKs sewer ordinance

YATESVILLE – Council members on Wednesday approved a sewer enforcement ordinance that they hope will serve as a model for neighboring Laflin and Jenkins Township.

The ordinance allows examination of sewer systems to ensure stormwater is not getting into sewer systems and was prompted by sewage overflows after moderate and heavy rains.

The borough has been working on an ordinance for more than a year, after council realized it needed stronger enforcement and investigative powers.

Preliminary research after the first few overflows indicated that sump pumps and rain gutters tied into the sanitary sewer system, rather than the storm sewer system, were the likely source of the problem.

The ordinance applies to inspections in Yatesville only, but because parts of Laflin and Jenkins Township tie into the Yatesville system, those two municipalities would need to pass similar ordinances in order to solve the problem.

Laflin and Jenkins Township properties are believed to have some of the same incorrectly connected stormwater lines that are creating the overflow problem in Yatesville, which is the lowest place on the line.

In other business, council agreed to contribute $100 toward the West Pittston Independence Day fireworks celebration, which will be July 5, and $750 towards the Jenkins Township Little League.

Police Chief Michael Flanagan told council that traffic enforcement had been stepped up, resulting in significant ticketing, and attempts would be made in the next few weeks to crack down on illegal motorcycle and scooter use on some smaller streets.

Residents with problems should immediately call 911 to report problems because the size of the combined Yatesville-Laflin enforcement area is such that a vehicle can be on scene in a matter of minutes, Flanagan noted.