Hikers on a Lancaster County Parks trail between Briertown Road and Money Rocks Park in East Earl Township have encountered obstructions that include overflow from an adjacent salvage yard and, at times, a backhoe parked in the middle of the trail.

Hikers also said standing water collecting in the junk in the salvage yard is a breeding ground for gnats and mosquitoes.

The trail, which the usual Watchdog duo found very picturesque, is called both the Money Rocks trail because it passes through Money Rocks Park, or the Iron Horse Trail because it follows the path of an abandoned railroad line that once connected Honey Brook and Leola.

But the trail does cut through a salvage yard and the edge of the trail is littered with everything from pots and pans to power equipment, furniture to a rusting truck — not to mention backhoe tire tracks on the trail itself. And if you walk there, lather up with mosquito repellent.

Paul Weiss, the county's parks and recreation administrator, said he is aware of what has been "an ongoing issue" between the parks department, and the salvage yard owner, Charles Buchanan, of the 1400 block of Briertown Road.

The main problem, Weiss said, is that the Buchanan owns property on both sides of the trail, stores material on both locations and must use the trail to access those sites. But sometimes the salvage material encroaches into the trail and other times the backhoe is parked on the trail, as well.

Weiss said he plans "to send a letter reminding [Buchanan] that he may cross the trail to access his property. However, he may not leave any vehicles on the trail and he must clear all personal property from the trail."

Copies of the letter will be sent to East Earl Township officials, county park rangers and the county solicitor, Weiss said.

As for the standing water problem, Weiss said the parks department cannot make Buchanan address a situation such as this on his private property. However, in the letter Weiss said, "I will request that he dump out any containers full of water, but I cannot require action."

Traffic camera request
A driver who frequents North West End Avenue asked if the city would consider installing a traffic camera at North West End and Marietta Pike to take pictures of license plates (and subsequently ticket the owners) of Marietta Pike motorists who routinely blow through the red light.

That won't be happening any time soon, said city Public Works Director Charlotte Katzenmoyer.

Traffic cameras are not permitted in Pennsylvania, except in Philadelphia, which received a special authorization to install and use them.

Added Katzenmoyer, "This special provision came with a price tag. Philadelphia must share their revenue with the rest of the state through grants that will be awarded to resolve safety issues at intersections."

Katzenmoyer said Lancaster was awarded one of those grants and plans to use it for improvements at North Plum and East Walnut streets.

There have been numerous accidents at the intersection because southbound drivers on Plum Street turn right into the yield lane for East Walnut, but do not obey the "yield sign" in the lane, and charge into traffic.

The city plans to eliminate the yield lane and reconfigure the intersection into a standard four-way intersection.

The city also plans to add some "green infrastructure" in the place of the current yield lane to soak up stormwater and lessen the burden on the sewer system during heavy rains.

On Target
A frequent shopper at the Target store on Route 30 East and Witmer Road wondered if the light for shoppers headed east on Route 30 and turning left onto Witmer Road was functioning properly since there is often a long wait in the left-turn lane.

A spokesman for East Lampeter Township police said the changing of the lights at the intersection is governed by traffic cameras on the light poles. However, priority is given to traffic on Route 30 and not the turning lanes. So while the camera watching the eastbound left-turn lane will notice a car pulling into that lane, if the camera watching the westbound lane of Route 30 sees a line of cars it will continue to allow traffic to flow and the Route 30 eastbound drivers turning left will have to wait.

One tip for Target shoppers who are in a hurry (provided by the Watchdog's wife who, in his humble opinion, frequents the store a bit too often): Instead of using Route 30, take Route 340 eastbound to Witmer Road, turn right, then sneak up on the retailer from behind.

csmedley@lnpnews.com