The motion unanimously approved by the six directors present authorized $65,000 to create a mechanism to fill Kayak Ridge and Hullwood ponds, which are 9.95 acres in total, using surface water; however, there will be no specific duty nor obligation to do so. According to the motion, advanced by Vice Chair Kyle Watson, township staff will work with residents to determine appropriate action when needed.
About a dozen residents concerned about pond levels attended the meeting and applauded the vote. Director Bob Milner was not present for the vote.
The board also discussed the unauthorized use of 740,850 gallons of water in December, which represented 10 straight days of water pouring into Cokeberry Pond, which is located off Cokeberry Street. The level of the pond had previously been low, officials said.
The water theft was identified during monthly well inspections, according to Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes. He said it represents a $62.90 value of water, which is $0.085 per 1,000 gallons. Staff are authorized to file charges on topics such as trespassing and incidents like this, Nunes said. However, the perpetrator is not yet known, he said.
An action plan resulting from the incident consisted of reviewing well and water valves, installing or enhancing locks and tamper-resistant hardware, and reviewing the valves during weekly ranger inspections, according to Nunes.
Nunes said the township notified the sheriff’s office several weeks after the theft, approximately in January, because of the challenge in identifying who caused the unauthorized use as well as the value of the water.
Although the monetary value of the water is low, Nunes said that the water represents an important resource for the community.
“It’s taking theoretically our ability to pump later. ... It is very difficult to attribute value and hand it over to the police,” he said.
Director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said the knowledge of how to turn on a pump to fill the pond would not be common knowledge and represents a deliberate action.
“That was fully intentional; that was not a teenager who accidentally saw a pump and turned it on. ... It was an intentional filling because it was low. There’s nothing right about that,” Gibbs said.
Nunes said the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the matter, but the township does not have access to the investigation.
