Richland council instructs highway department to fill sinkhole

t the direction of the Richland borough council, the highway department will do what a property owner has neglected to do: fill a sinkhole adjacent to the street.

Councilman John Mueller told council there were previously four small stakes around the sinkhole, but someone removed two of the stakes.

"We need to do something about it.  It's unsafe." Mueller said.

Assistant highway superintendent John Johnson said the matter was brought up in 2015 and borough solicitor Thomas Harlan told council if the sinkhole is on private property, it is the property owner's responsibility. Mueller said he is concerned about a person being injured falling into the hole.

"We could be held liable. Can't we put some stakes and plastic netting around the hole?" Mueller asked.

Harlan said the borough could be named in a suit, but it can not be assumed the borough would be liable if an accident occurs on private property. He said if council is concerned that the hole presents an imminent danger, it could direct the highway department to place netting around the hole.

Harlan asked the borough's code enforcement officer, Jeff Arnold, if he has investigated the sinkhole.

"There is no ordinance that addresses sinkholes," Arnold told him, "so there is nothing legally I can do."

Mueller asked if the borough's building inspection consultant, Randy Maurer of Associated Building Inspections, could be brought in to investigate the situation. Harlan said the council could contact Maurer, but then someone else suggested that the borough fills the hole.

"We could do that," said highway superintendent Dwight Belleman.

"If you take a load of stone over there I will help, shovel it in," Mueller added.

The council instructed the highway department to fill the hole.

The sinkhole is located along the curb in the front lawn of a home at 202 Poplar St., just south of Linden Street. It is about 30 inches long, 26 inches wide and 48 inches deep. Part of the hole is open under the curbing.

Also at the meeting, Belleman said fire hydrant flushing will be done in the borough on May 16, 17 and 18, and will begin at 6 a.m. and conclude at about 2 p.m.

"The flushing could cause a drop in household water pressure," Belleman warned.