Motorists have been driving around a hole and depression in the pavement along Route 209 near Kennedy Park in Lansford for more than a month.

Resident Rose Mary Cannon asked council for an update during a brief special meeting on Tuesday.

Council President Bruce Markovich said that the borough contacted the state Department of Transportation, as it is a state highway, and the department asked the borough to scope its sewer tunnel.

“We did it,” he said. “It cost us $1,800. There’s nothing wrong with the sewer tunnel.”

A dye test, however, revealed a broken lateral line, Markovich said, and the homeowner has no intention of fixing it.

“We notified PennDOT,” he said. “It’s up to PennDOT now to come and do something with that hole.”

Cannon said it must have been leaking a long time, and Markovich said that he believes rainwater downspouts are connected to that lateral, and another house on Ridge Street that is also connected.

“So there’s two houses connected to that lateral,” he said.

Councilman Joseph Butrie said that one house that is connected was sold at a tax sale last year, and that’s why no one is living in it.

Markovich said that they’re assuming that PennDOT is going to do something with the hole, as the area where the lateral runs is marked with spray paint.

Councilwoman Michele Bartek said that she, as chair of the public safety committee, will contact PennDOT to see what they intend to do, and have an update for council’s regular meeting next week.

“We don’t want to assume any responsibility for that, because once we start fixing it, it’s going to be a continual thing,” Markovich said. “It’s going to be our fault all the time, and it’s really not ours to start.”