Municipal News
- Last Updated on Thursday, 09 May 2013 02:50
By Paul Chasko
The three parties involved in a dispute that has spanned years appear to have reached final agreement to cut down trees impinging on the flight path of planes landing and taking off from Finleyville airport which is located in Union Township.
The three parties involved in a dispute that has spanned years appear to have reached final agreement to cut down trees impinging on the flight path of planes landing and taking off from Finleyville airport which is located in Union Township.
 Surveyors from PennDOT’s Aviation
Division measuring tree heights last summer. |
Union Township was involved since 1985 when they were required by the state to adopt an “Airport Hazards Zoning Ordinance”, which the Township is bound by law to enforce. The ordinance dictates that a specific envelope of air-space surrounding the airport is kept clear – this included the trees at the end of the runway on sixteen acres belonging to Mary Parish. Her son, Steve Parish Jr. is a long-time member of the Union Township Board of Supervisors and has acted as President for several terms. The Parish family has resisted efforts to cut down the trees for years. Several attempts by the Airport and more recently by the township to purchase the sixteen acres failed. This dispute has lasted for at least 20 years according to long-time Union Township Board Supervisors and has resulted in multiple hearings in Washington County Common Pleas Court. Judge Katherine B. Emery seemed reluctant to hand down an order to cut down the trees, but instead asked them to be trimmed but instructed lawyers of the three parties to go home and find a more permanent solution. The Parish attorney found reasons to delay the trimming ordered by Judge Emery and they have never been trimmed.
According to current Union Township Board President, Linda Evans-Boren, Union Township and Finleyville Airport today are signing off on an agreement with the Parish Family which will allow the trees to be cut to the ground. This has gone on for so long that I’ll believe it when I see the trees actually hit the ground.
The parcel of land in question (16 acres) is part of a larger tract owned by Mary Parish (100 plus acres). Mrs. Evans-Boren has stated that the larger tract containing the trees in question near the end of the Finleyville airport runway have been of interest to Tomko Corp. that owns property adjoining the Parish tract of land. According to Mrs. Evans-Boren, negotiations for Tomko’s Purchase of the land have been ongoing with the Parish Family for several years. Mrs. Evans-Boren also stated that Tomko Corp. recently took the position that their purchase of the Parish property hinged on resolution of all litigation clouding the property. Evans-Boren believes this was the driving factor of the agreement to have the trees cut down. The Union Twp. Board at their last meeting established an escrow of $12,000 to pay for cutting of the trees in question and Evans-Boren believes it may cost more than that amount.
A side issue is whether any part of the $70,000 (Estimated by the Union Twp. Board Treasurer) in litigation and related costs expended by Union Twp. over this issue since 1985 can be recovered. This question has come up repeatedly in Board meetings and in conversations with board members. If no part of these costs can be recovered, Union Twp. Taxpayers have paid a high price to resolve this issue. According to Finleyville Airport Board members, their costs exceed $50,000 and some of these costs have been covered by government grants – also coming out of taxpayers’ pockets.
According to current Union Township Board President, Linda Evans-Boren, Union Township and Finleyville Airport today are signing off on an agreement with the Parish Family which will allow the trees to be cut to the ground. This has gone on for so long that I’ll believe it when I see the trees actually hit the ground.
The parcel of land in question (16 acres) is part of a larger tract owned by Mary Parish (100 plus acres). Mrs. Evans-Boren has stated that the larger tract containing the trees in question near the end of the Finleyville airport runway have been of interest to Tomko Corp. that owns property adjoining the Parish tract of land. According to Mrs. Evans-Boren, negotiations for Tomko’s Purchase of the land have been ongoing with the Parish Family for several years. Mrs. Evans-Boren also stated that Tomko Corp. recently took the position that their purchase of the Parish property hinged on resolution of all litigation clouding the property. Evans-Boren believes this was the driving factor of the agreement to have the trees cut down. The Union Twp. Board at their last meeting established an escrow of $12,000 to pay for cutting of the trees in question and Evans-Boren believes it may cost more than that amount.
A side issue is whether any part of the $70,000 (Estimated by the Union Twp. Board Treasurer) in litigation and related costs expended by Union Twp. over this issue since 1985 can be recovered. This question has come up repeatedly in Board meetings and in conversations with board members. If no part of these costs can be recovered, Union Twp. Taxpayers have paid a high price to resolve this issue. According to Finleyville Airport Board members, their costs exceed $50,000 and some of these costs have been covered by government grants – also coming out of taxpayers’ pockets.
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