Resident want sewer issues addressed

Some residents in the Village of Whitehall may not have full access to the village’s sewer lines, but that is something that officials are working to fix.

Resident Randy Martell came into last Tuesday’s board meeting to address the board about concerns he had regarding his sewer line at his property on Blinn Street. He said that he has to go over 100 feet to attempt to connect to any village sewer line.

“I think I’m entitled to the same access to a sewer line as anyone in this village,” Martell told the board. “Being on a piece of property in the middle of this village, without access to a village sewer line seems unrealistic.”

Officials reassured Martell that he was not alone in this issue and that the village was working closely with an attorney to see to what extent it can work on certain portions of the sewer line.

“There are properties on Blinn Street, McCotter Street, Wheeler Avenue and Mountain Street that have the same problem,” Telisky said, “If it requires going through someone else’s property to get a line to your front yard, we may not be able to do it. It is a matter of private versus public and we are working with our attorney on that.”

Trustee Ken Bartholomew explained that the sewer system is 100-years-old and that officials of that time were not taking into account where private property would be in this day and age.

Board members said, they are communicating with the attorney and looking for the best ways to supply everyone with adequate sewer line, without violating people’s private property or misusing tax money.