LIBERTY — The township’s zoning code was a topic of discussion at this week’s meeting, as a Logan Arms Drive resident used the public comments portion to discuss an abandoned commercial property that he previously suggested presents a desolate view of the community.

Steve Stoyak, who has brought the Tibbetts Wick Road gas station property to officials’ attention since April, said trustees have heard numerous complaints regarding the property maintenance problem.

Stoyak complimented Melissa Ritchie, the township’s new zoning inspector who took over for Jim Rodway following his retirement Aug. 31, recalling a conversation he had with someone living next to a Fifth Avenue property.

“They received their final notice, and we’re in the process of moving further as nothing has been taken care of,” Ritchie said. “We’re trying to aggressively take care of that for the neighbors because it’s been some time and it needs to be taken care of.”

Stoyak said he sent an email to Trustee Arnie Clebone two-and-a-half weeks ago about the lack of public attention toward the township’s enforcement of the zoning code, asking trustees to include an agenda item for their Dec. 18 meeting that would make it a priority.

“Such a discussion would allow the public to understand the viewpoints of each trustee, and to explain their vote if such a vote would be called for,” Stoyak said. “A negative majority vote would allow me to understand that further pursuit of a resolution to the abandoned gas station we’ve talked about would be a waste of time.”

Stoyak said he thought that at some point, the community would likely hear a report like the police or fire report detailing how many locations were visited and citations were sent out.

Ritchie said trustees already receive such a report that details what addresses violation letters went to, what the violations were and the number of notices.

“It’s not just report permits, it’s actually all the violation letters that I issued within that monthly time,” Ritchie said. “They do receive a report, which is also public information; if anyone would like a copy, we could do that as well.”

Ritchie provided trustees with a copy of a letter she sent to the owners of the Tibbetts Wick gas station Nov. 12 detailing its violations, such as sanitation, vacant structures and motor vehicles.

If the violations are not corrected or unless an extension has been requested within 30 days, the owners will be subject to penalties per the township’s zoning resolution, civil fines of not more than $500 for each offense, according to the letter.