Residents of Oak Ridge Estates have come before the Robinson Commissioners three times seeking to get work completed in their housing development.

Jim Thomas, of Diebold Road, has appeared at least a half dozen times seeking a solution to his land-use problem.

Charles Sims, of Eichelberger Drive, has spoken more than 10 times about the landslide that has claimed his back yard, a problem dating back more than three years.

Manager Rich Charnovich and Solicitor Sam Kamin said solutions to all three are in the works, but the commissioners Monday made it clear they are not happy with the slow pace.

"That hasn't been done yet? I thought this was checked," said Commissioners' Chairman Dan Tallon after Mr. Kamin said the township engineer should assess Mr. Thomas' situation.

Mr. Thomas has been complaining to commissioners since May about a detention pond on property abutting his family's farm. The pond is supposed to collect runoff water from a housing plan and release it slowly through a large-diameter stack pipe.

But Mr. Thomas has said that the stack pipe failed, and the owner of the nearest house pulled it out, removed a fence around the pond and filled the pond with eight truckloads of soil. The runoff now flows onto his family's property.

Robinson planning officer Rick Urbano said the issue is snarled by the fact that Anchor Supply, the original developer of the housing plan, is bankrupt, leaving the property in the hands of the law firm Pepper Hamilton, which has agreed that it is responsible for the pond.

"Is there a violation here, and if so, when are we going to issue a citation?" Stephanie Triko-Selelyo asked. "What's the procedure here? Somebody's violating something; what are we going to do about it?"

Mr. Kamin said an engineer would need to determine whose property the pond is on, whether the grading has affected its function and examine the status of the stack pipe.

The commissioners promised Mr. Thomas that an engineering report would be done by Feb. 11.

Mr. Sims' situation is somewhat similar. Storm water pipes have failed and the overflow has washed a portion of his yard into a ravine.

"Mr. Kamin and I had a meeting with the insurance carrier before Christmas," Mr. Charnovich said. "I know I've said this before, but they are very, very close to a decision."

In Oak Ridge Estates, residents have complained that developer Mike Homer has not installed streetlights and has not finished the roads. Mr. Homer has argued that the homeowners are supposed to form a homeowners' association to take responsibility for lighting bills and other amenities.

Richard D'Amore, speaking on behalf of the homeowners, said they were forming an association, but that Mr. Homer had expressed concern to them about the cost of completing the work.

Mr. Charnovich and Commissioner Jerry Brouker said they attended a meeting between Mr. Homer and homeowners in December, and that the two sides need an estimate for how much the work would cost.

Mr. Homer and the homeowners are asking the township to have its engineer look at the development and the plans and make an estimate of the cost.

"Who would be paying the engineer?" Mr. Tallon asked.

"We would be," Mr. Brouker said.

Mr. Tallon noted that if the homeowners form an association, Mr. Homer is required to complete the development. If he doesn't, the township can seize his bond and use the money to do the work.

First Published: January 17, 2008, 10:45 a.m.