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Twenty selected homeowners from Diane Merle Drive
believe that this entire North Huntingdon Township Municipal Authority
(NHTMA) sewer replacement project has lacked proper communications
and planning. An initial letter from the NHTMA was mailed to these
selected homeowners dated December 5 informing them of a public
meeting on December 19. The meeting would discuss this future
major project scheduled to begin sometime in March 2007. Most
residents were unable to attend due to short notice and the Christmas
Holiday. A few homeowners though did attend and were confused
from the lack of clear information from the NHTMA Board. Other
homeowners visited the NHTMA offices during the following months
asking questions and voicing their concerns.
Private
Property Assaulted
Then one June morning heavy equipment arrived on Diane
Merle Drive and begun destroying homeowners manicured landscapes,
driveways, and retaining walls. Some homeowners had a look of
disbelief while others appeared to be in a state of shock. Many
wanted immediate answers but could not find any from the NHTMA
inspectors or the chosen contractor. Phone calls were then made
to the NHTMA supervisor without any answers. Homeowners felt alone!
Lack of two-way dialogue is why this web site exists now and will
continue in the future. Please visit here to learn about critical
project information to help when this continuing NHTMA project
comes to your neighborhood. And please remember to tell your neighbors. |
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Why did this project happen here? Homeowners on
Diane Merle Drive were told that their sanitary sewer line and
private laterals suffer from an infiltration problem due to terra-cotta
construction from the 1970's. The NHTMA supervisor told us that
whenever it rains storm water enters this older styler pipe and
laterals. This adds significant amounts of water that ends up
at the NHTMA holding station on Lincoln Way. But the homeowners
on Diane Merle Drive are subject to massive amounts or storm water
from homes the street above when there is a major rain storm.
This has not been resolved by the NHTMA or the Public Works Department,
but finally is being investigated.
Connected
Homes Excluded
Only 1 homeowner of the 20 selected homeowners ever had a sewage
problem since 1972. But the NHTMA supervisor told us that our
section of Diane Merle Drive was the worst in the Township, although
homeowners who have lived here for over 30 years disagreed and
never were shown documented flow meter readings for our sewer
line. And homeowners are asking why other homes that are connected
to the new sewer line mysteriously did not have their lateral
connections tested either. No written proof of the supervisor's
claims concerning the dire condition of Diane Merle Drive was
provided to validate his exclusive declaration. |
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| As this major NHTMA project progresses, many homeowners
are discovering new problems which are not being resolved promptly
to their satisfaction. Some homeowners have lost electric power,
telephone service, cable connections, and basement flooding since
the beginning. One homeowner has not had his major electrical
power feed corrected for close to a month. This homeowner has
been living off alternate electricity due to a burning smell in
his home! Another had appliances fail because of this work and
has not received any assistance from the NHTMA. Issues concerning
restoration of damaged homeowners properties are not specific
and have been painstakingly slow to happen. Unresolved past, present,
and new homeowner issues will be discussed on this web site. Please
stop back often and get involved with the homeowners here on Diane
Merle Drive. Your private property may very well be the next one
for this unneeded project! |
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Join with us as we try to protect our private property.
No homeowner here ever received requests in writing from the NHTMA
to let their workers come onto our private property. We understand
they have access to the right of way, but NHTMA workers have encroached
beyond this many times. Many homeowners worried about the liability
risks if one of these workers was to get hurt. No homeowner has
signed for the failed video inspections of their lateral connections.
Neighbors Need Your Help
Homeowners have many serious questions about this troubling video
inspection procedure. The costs to be in compliance with this
order from the NHTMA supervisor have exceeded $5,000 for some
homeowners! This amount of money to be in compliance for questionable
findings has been especially difficult for the retirees. |
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