While Durham Township’s Planning Commission will be reviewing some new trends — things like charging stations for commercial electric vehicles — the township supervisors have been confronted with a problem caused by an ancient mode of transportation, the horse.
Drivers who travel Lehnenberg Road in Durham and Springfield townships often come unexpectedly upon two or three horses on the road.
For many, the sight is a fascinating one — elegant, handsome animals, worth more than most cars, mounted by riders in colorful gear.
But Douglas Souders, who lives on Thistle Hill, just off Lehnenberg, is unhappy with the situation — not so much with the horses but with what they leave behind on a daily basis.
Souders complained about the manure dropped on the road and asked the supervisors to do something about cleaning it up.
Souders called in to the supervisors’ January board meeting which he had been listening to on a special telephone hook-up, to express his frustration with the ongoing situation.
He said clumps of manure can be found at about every 100 feet and he cannot even walk to his mailbox without having to detour around the horses’ droppings.
The horses come from the 28-acre Buckwampum Farm situated at the intersection of Lehnenberg Road and Route 412 in Springfield Township. It is owned and operated by Caroline Martin Pamukcu, who is known in equestrian circles as the “Top Leading Lady Eventing Rider in North America.”
Eventing means one horse and one rider compete in three disciplines: dressage, cross-country and show jumping. Pamukcu, who also has a farm in Florida, was one of four Team USA riders for the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in October. A champion equestrienne since her childhood, she may be headed to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In her 20s, Pamukcu also imports, trains and sells horses, many priced in the $50,000 to $85,000 range, according to her website.
Supervisor Chairman Bartley E. Millett told Souders the township has no jurisdiction over Lehnenberg Road because it is a state-owned road, but he said the supervisors would check with the state to see if they would clean the road. The state does pay the township to plow snow off Lehnenberg Road, but only snow.
A message left on the farm’s telephone failed to produce a response.
In other more routine business, the supervisors appointed Zelenkofske Axelrod, of Jamison, to serve as the township’s accountant. They also approved an expenditure of $8,218 for an insurance policy with Gladfelter Public Entities for full coverage of the 1820 Durham Grist Mill and its equipment.
The board voted unanimously to ask the township solicitor to do a full review of the lease for the Durham post office. It occupies a section of the mill and the township charges it rent.
A Large Item Clean-Up Day is planned for April 20 from 8 a.m. until noon at the township yard on Old Furnace Road.
David Oleksa, president of the Durham Historical Society, presented an update on the society’s activities.
Supervisor Kathleen Gentner was appointed to represent the township on the Palisades Regional Fire and Rescue board.
Little changed when the township met to reorganize on Jan. 2. Millett remains supervisor chairman, Gentner remains vice chairman and Richard Johnson is still a member and treasurer and all consultants and employees were re-appointed.
In addition, Blake Timochenko, a member of the township’s environmental advisory council, will now serve as its chairman.
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