Staff

Joseph Roscioli	Public Works Director
Brian Gordon	Asst Public Works Director
Linda Cleaver	Administrative Assistant
James Mahlon	Utility Superintendent
James Wyatt	Skilled Utility Worker
George Hook	Skilled Utility Worker
Matt Smith	Skilled Utility Worker
Kenneth Watton	Skilled Utility Worker
Len Shirk	Road Superintendent
George DeHaven	Skilled Road Worker
Robert Harshaw	Skilled Road Worker
Harold Riegel	Skilled Road Worker
Norm Shirk	Skilled Road Worker
Leslie Bookman	Skilled Road Worker
Andrew Young	Skilled Road Worker
Ryan Speaks	Skilled Road Worker

SPREAD THE WORD!

Help keep our streams clean.

Many people do not realize that anything that is deposited on the ground could eventually end up in our streams. Understanding that the stormwater inlets lead to streams is important for the quality of our streams as well as our drinking water. Nothing but stormwater should be entering these drains.
For more information, please use the following link to the Department of Environmental Protection website. Once you have entered the DEP website, use the links at the bottom of the DEP webpage to educate yourself and others on the need to protect our waterways.

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/wc/subjects/stormwatermanagement/default.htm

Call Before You Dig!

By State law, if you are going to excavate to a depth beyond eighteen (18) inches, you must call the PA One Call phone number at 1-800-242-1776 to advise them of exactly where you are digging so that the various utilities in your area may come out and locate their facilities.  The purpose of this is so that one does not inadvertently, when placing a mailbox, for example, place the posthole digger through an electric or gas line.  Needless to say, the potential for a dangerous situation or injuries is quite high. Therefore, use of the PA One Call System is highly recommended.  You may be liable for any damages, if the call is not made.

Sanitary Sewers

West Whiteland Township is responsible for the sanitary sewer mains which proceed down the middle of most streets in the Township as well as the sewer lateral which runs from the sewer main back to the approximate edge of paving.

Should you have a sewer blockage with sewer coming out of your vent in your front or back lawn, kindly call the Township offices 610-363-9525 and ask for Jim Mahlon. We will gladly, at no fee, come out and try to plunge the blockage.  At that point, we will also check to make sure the blockage is not in our sanitary sewer line.  If it is in the Township’s sewer line (mains or lateral) we will have the blockage cleared.  If the blockage is beyond the edge of paving (i.e. on your lawn) and we cannot clear the blockage it will be up to you, the property owner, to contract with a Registered Master Plumber to have it cleared.

WHEN IS THE PROBLEM THE HOMEOWNERS?

Although the Township will check your sewer problem, there are times that it will be your responsibility to have any blockage/problem cleared.

Those of you who have a sewer vent with a mushroom type cap in your yard which allows sewer gases to vent out rather than enter your home should be aware that  these vents are very important and should not be removed and replaced with a tight fitting cap.  Further, should the cap break, they are easy to purchase at local plumbing supply or hardware stores, such as Home Depot.  The Township does not provide the cap.

If the cap or the vertical stack pipe is broken,  it should be repaired immediately as it will allow extraneous water to enter the sanitary sewer line and cause more sewage at the plant. This causes increased sewer costs. Now that the sewer rates are down, let’s try to keep them down by keeping all extraneous water out of the sewer lines.

Is It a State or a Township Road?

West Whiteland Township has approximately fifty miles of township-owned roads and approximately forty miles of state-owned roads. Following is a list of the roads which are state-owned and maintained by PennDOT. Problems on these roads should be called into PennDOT at  484-340-3200. This is the Chester County Maintenance Office number, and they are the ones in charge of the State roads in West Whiteland Township.

Most of the other roads in the Township are owned by West Whiteland Township.  If you see problems with potholes, overhanging tree branches, signage, debris dumped, traffic signals, etc., please call the West Whiteland Township Public Works Department at 610-363-9525.

There are some roads under construction in developments which, when work is completed, will be dedicated to West Whiteland Township.  Until they are dedicated to the Township, they are the responsibility of the developer.

There are also a few private roads throughout the Township.  Examples of a few are:

There are also various courts and terraces in many townhouse developments which are private.

West Whiteland Township does not maintain or plow state-owned or privately owned roads.

Traffic Signals

It is  interesting to note that PennDOT is different from many states in that the traffic signals are owned and maintained by the municipalities in which they are placed. However, municipalities must have a permit from PennDOT for each and every signal regarding the timing, location, sequencing, signing, etc.  Before any traffic signal may be changed, PennDOT approval must be obtained, and this often takes weeks before timing or sequencing may be changed.

Regarding Township roads and State roads, it is important to know that before any signage may be placed for which one may receive a citation e.g. speed limit, no parking, stop signs, etc., a Engineering and Traffic Study must be done. The rules governing these studies are published by the Federal government. There is a “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices” which indicates what signs may be placed, under what conditions they may be placed, and how Engineering and Traffic Studies must be done.

Snow Removal

Snow removal is very important in West Whiteland Township from a safety standpoint. Our process is as follows:

•  As soon as the snow begins to stick on the roads, a salt mixture is placed on all of the township-owned roads.

•  As soon as snow is three inches deep, plowing begins.

• If it looks as if it is only going to be a four or five-inch snow, we may wait until the snowfall ends and then do the plowing.

•  If it is going to be an extended snow, six inches or more, the men continuously plow to make certain that all of the Township roads are open, so that should there be an emergency, a fire truck, ambulance, or policeman could get into any area of the Township.

•  Within five hours of the end of the snow, we anticipate having all the roads cleared full width.

For those of you who get angry with us for plowing in driveways which you carefully shoveled out, please realize that we try first to keep all of the roads open and then come back and do a full width plowing after the snow has ended. We thank you for your cooperation in this endeavor.

Sidewalks

For those of you who have sidewalks around your property, please remember the necessity of keeping them in good repair and also clear of ice and snow during inclement weather. This is mandated by West Whiteland Township Ordinance.

Public Works Projects 2006

The following is a list of anticipated Public Works Projects for the year 2006:

• Replace guiderail at the Shoen Road Bridge and Township Line Road Bridge.
• Repair and resurface the following roads:
  
  Dunsinane Drive
  Exton Lane
  Fairway Lane (Between Lincoln Hwy. and Shetland Dr.)
  Flintshire Terrace
  Grubbs Mill Road
  Kirkland Avenue (Between King Rd. and Boot Rd.)
  Lisa Drive
  Michele Drive
  Ravine Road
  Samuel Road
  Southern Drive (Between Grove Rd. and Samuel Rd.)
  Whitford Hills Road (oil and chip surface coat)
  
  (Roads may be added or deleted as found necessary.)
   
• Perform inspections of sanitary sewers for inflow and infiltration.
• Continue root control measures throughout the sewer system.
• Complete the Clover Mill Pump Station Upgrade Project.
• Place storm sewer pipe, inlets, and curbing as needed on Sweet Briar Road, Apple Drive, Huffman Drive, and Burke Road.

As a reminder, the Public Works Department asks that all motorists be aware of their speed as they travel through work areas set up throughout the Township. The traffic cones, barrels, and signs are there to protect both the workers and the motoring public. Please respect the workers by watching your speed and obeying the signage.