Judge asked to allow Penn Township officials to clean up blighted Frye Road property

Penn Township officials want a judge to grant them permission to clean up a property that has been blighted for years after a 2014 lawsuit against the owners failed to remedy the situation.

In an amended civil complaint filed Wednesday, township officials said a Frye Road property owned by members of the Klingensmith family remains filled with garbage and vehicles in various states of disrepair.

“We’re trying to fix this problem for the residents as best we can,” said township solicitor Michael Korns.

The lawsuit in 2014 was a last resort after 12 years then of asking family members to clean up the property. Officials ran into issues with the case because the property owners are dead and they had trouble serving the complaint on Boyd N. Klingensmith of Penn Township. He is listed as a defendant along with his brother Lee R. Klingensmith of Loyalhanna Township and their deceased mother Helen Klingensmith.

Korns said Boyd Klingensmith spends “at least some time” on the property.

With the amended complaint, Korns wants to simplify the situation by securing a judge’s permission to enter the property and remediate the issues. The township would then place a lien on the property for the associated costs.

“We’re pushing this through as fast as we can,” he said.

On Thursday, the property was covered with at least five vehicles that appeared to be inoperable and filled with bags. Weeds stood 3 to 4 feet high, taller than the vehicles, and a strong odor emanated from the property.

All are violations of the township’s property maintenance code, according to the lawsuit. Korns said he plans to bring the issue before a judge during motions court after Boyd Klingensmith is given time to respond.

Klingensmith could not be reached.