OLD FORGE — A group of borough residents attended a work session Tuesday to express frustration at the lack of progress in the ongoing cleanup of an illegal junkyard taken to court by the borough nearly two years ago.
The borough first went to court in February 2018 to close the operation of Scrap Enterprises as an illegal junkyard in violation of Old Forge’s zoning ordinance. Five months later, Lackawanna County Judge Thomas Munley directed Walter Stocki Jr., owner of the property at Rear 105 N. Keyser Ave., to stop all activity that violates the ordinance and remove all non-operational equipment and vehicles from the property.
Since then, there has been little improvement at the site. After touring the property in May, Munley gave Stocki 100 days to clean it up, then a 45-day extension in September.
The judge visited the property again last week, ahead of a hearing at noon Thursday on a request by the borough to hold Stocki in contempt for repeatedly violating the judge’s orders.
Chris Goetz of Amity Avenue told council Tuesday he doesn’t understand why the ordinance can’t be strictly enforced.
“There is a reason we have zoning ordinances in this borough, but we continue to have a situation over there,” Goetz said. “These hearings have been dragging on for months and months and (Stocki’s) attorney comes up with every excuse in the book.”
Council members shared the residents’ frustrations.
“There are twice as many vehicles there now than when council toured the property in May,” Councilman Jim Hoover said. “I drive by that place two or three times a week and I always pull in the parking lot to see what’s going on. There’s not a time where I don’t find something going in. I see flatbeds coming in late at night with unusable machines.”
The borough started fining Stocki $500 per day for violations of the zoning ordinance on Nov. 21, 2017. As of Nov. 21, the fines will amount to $365,000, although Stocki is appealing them.
Earlier this month, the state Department of Environmental Protection ordered Stocki to clean up and properly dispose of spills on his property, along with tires, construction and demolition debris and other solid waste. He also must pay a $75,000 civil penalty but will be eligible for a $25,000 credit for petroleum contamination cleanup costs.
Also at Tuesday’s work session, council opened six bids for renovations of the former Old Forge Ambulance and Rescue Association building into the new police headquarters.
Police Chief Jason Dubernas has said the department has outgrown the Borough Building and officials have discussed the idea of a new police station for a few years.
Bids received included:
Mar-Paul Co., Jessup, $861,000.
D&M Construction, Dalton, $891,000.
Spano Construction, Scranton, $920,400.
Multiscape, Pittston, $932,680.
Champion Builders, Kingston, $949,800.
Bognet Inc., Hazle Twp. $974,537.
The contract will be awarded during an upcoming meeting. The bids are valid for 120 days.
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