Resident sues Kiski Township, claims illegal dumping, burning and other environmental concerns

A resident has sued Kiski Township, claiming it is illegally dumping and burning in the township.

Gene Kline, 41, who lives along Brownstown Road, filed his civil lawsuit against the township on Aug. 6 in Armstrong County Court.

Kline said he is not looking for money.

He wants the township to stop what he believes is illegal dumping and burning at the township’s road department facility near his home along Brownstown Road.

Township Secretary Patrick Bono said he could not comment on the allegations because it’s part of a legal action.

Kline said he called the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to complain earlier this year after a fire burned unattended for five days on the road department site that caused a lot of smoke.

“I don’t mind burning,” Kline said. “I burn things.”

But when there was a fire that burned for multiple days this spring at the township site with a significant amount of smoke, Kline decided to do something about it.

He complained to DEP. That prompted the agency to meet with township officials, who recently announced the township would stop burning residential brush dropped off by residents at the road department site.

Kline said he was pleased with the DEP’s swift action and the township’s decision to stop burning residents’ brush.

“I was just asking them to be a good neighbor,” he said.

But Kline’s lawsuit also alleges that other items were dropped off, such as washers, that he says are buried at the site.

Kline is concerned about the road workers moving dirt, ash and other items to change the landscape of the township site. He’s concerned about drainage of the area, and whether permits are needed.

The road department site sits about a half-mile away from the recreational trail, Rock Furnace Trail. It’s also less than 500 feet from a local swimming hole in Rattling Run, a tributary of Roaring Run.

Kline said that he has been to the swimming hole and doesn’t want to see runoff from the township site impacting Rattling Run.

In the lawsuit, Kline is asking that the township remove what he claims is unlawfully dumped soil, rocks, trash, ashes and other debris.