A Franklin Township man is pleading with township officials to help him keep a portion of his property.

Resident Jason Eidem told the board that Pennsylvania Department of Transportation wants to take 6 feet of his 30-foot property front on Long Run Road.

Eidem said PennDOT received complaints from residents, and they want the extra 6 feet so the right of way is cleared.

Eidem said he received a letter that if he doesn’t move everything from those markers out, that they are going to come in with a loader and take it.

Eidem said he was told their intentions are to revamp the entire intersection and the areas leading up to it with signs; to request a traffic study and make it a three-way stop; and to upgrade the signs.

Staking claim

Eidem told the board that while he is relatively new to the township, he grew up there and views things from a different perspective.

“Franklin Township is the artery to the heart of the machine that built everything,” Eidem told the board last week. “I love my township; it’s home.”

He told the board he doesn’t want his kids, or his neighbors’ kids, to get run over due to the excessive speeding and tractor trailer issues that exist.

Eidem said he needs the board’s help.

“I hope you are going to help me protect my 6 feet,” he said. “You have to write a letter, send it to PennDOT.”

Eidem told the board he was “begging” them to take some action, as it’s to the point his kids are scared to walk out the front door.

“There’s issues; it needs a lot of input,” he said. “Those kids do not deserve that.”

Eidem also cited the lack of police on duty, and said officers need to be properly equipped.

Board Chairman Jason Frey said the township could write a letter.

Township secretary Brenda Cressley explained where the situation stood from the township’s perspective.

“Chairman Frey has left a message to speak to a PennDOT rep about this situation,” Cressley said. “Their plan is to have a sit down conversation with PennDOT to try and resolve the speeding and tractor trailer issues.”

Speeding issues

Speeding has been an issue on township roadways for some time.

In October 2020, several residents addressed the board about the matter.

Eidem and his wife Lisa Eidem complained at that time about speeding on Fairyland, Long Run Roads and the Canal Street intersection.

Township police Chief Jason Doll said at that time police had been making the best with what they had to work with, which was VASCAR.

Doll said at that time any residents who observe speeding or any other issues should come to the township police station with their concerns.

In September 2020, the board suggested using the township’s electronic speed control sign that may help slow people down a bit.

The main roads the township has been getting complaints about speeding on are Reber Street, Long Run Road, Indian Hill, Canal Street and Main Road.

In the fall of 2018, resident Daniel Sell asked the board to put a stop sign at the end of Canal Street, right before the turn onto Long Run Road, as Canal Street turns onto Fairyland Road at that intersection.

Sell said that he was taking a tree down at the intersection when a car almost hit him twice, and that he’s constantly worried about his safety.

Frey said at that time it sounded like a three-way stop sign should be erected.

Supervisor Robin Cressley said at that time the township planned to proceed with a three-way stop.

Since all three roads are state roads, but located in the township, the procedure is that a letter must be sent from the township recommending the stop sign be installed.