Community meeting archive

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Thank you to everyone who attended the community meeting regarding road conditions within Split Rock. The turnout demonstrated concern among property owners and residents and a willingness to work together toward practical solutions.

The meeting focused primarily on the condition and maintenance of the privately owned roads within Split Rock, public-safety concerns, transparency regarding road-maintenance funds, and potential options available to residents.

This recap documents what was discussed and identifies next steps under consideration. Statements or proposals by individual attendees are not established legal conclusions.

Purpose of the Meeting

The primary goal was to bring residents together around a focused issue: the condition and maintenance of Split Rock’s roads.

Over approximately the past eight months, residents have begun collecting photographs, videos, emails, financial information, correspondence, and other documentation relating to the roads. SplitRockRoads.com was created to consolidate that information into a central repository.

The intent is to build a factual record based on documents, photographs, and firsthand communications rather than rumors or unsupported claims. That record can then be evaluated by appropriate professionals, including legal counsel, without unnecessarily spending community resources reconstructing information residents already possess.

A 360-degree road survey covering approximately 90% of the community has also been completed. It documents potholes, vegetation and overhead-clearance concerns, roadway deterioration, and other observable conditions. Screening concentrations on this site are recorded sightings, not unique verified hazards.

State Government and Attorney General Discussion

A representative from the Pennsylvania House discussed limitations created by the roads’ current private status and explained that state government generally cannot simply repair or assume responsibility for privately owned roads.

The representative reported that his office had discussed the situation with the Carbon County District Attorney and indicated that, based on the information presented to that office, much of the current dispute appeared more likely to involve civil rather than criminal remedies. That statement is attributed to the representative as reported in the meeting; it is not a finding by this project.

Residents were encouraged to submit complaints to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection regarding road-maintenance services for which property owners are paying. Residents discussed submitting complaints individually while coordinating documentation so the Attorney General’s Office can see the broader pattern of concerns.

The recap reports that the representative also said he would make an inquiry regarding PennDOT and potential options involving roads that serve as significant connections through the area. That reported follow-up has not been independently verified here as completed.

For the official PA Attorney General consumer-complaint guide already published on this site, see How You Can Help. Filing does not guarantee an investigation or a result.

Open the PA Attorney General complaint guide

Public-Safety Concerns

One of the strongest themes of the meeting was that deteriorating road conditions are not simply an inconvenience.

A representative of the Lake Harmony Fire Department described the impact of the roads on emergency-response vehicles, including navigating potholes, roadside vegetation, and winter road conditions. Concerns were raised about potential damage to emergency equipment and the ability to safely and efficiently respond to incidents.

The fire department representative also raised separate concerns regarding portions of the fire-water/hydrant system and described problems encountered while attempting to obtain water from the system. Those comments are recorded as reported at the meeting and are not independently verified findings on this page.

Residents also identified locations where vehicles move toward the center or opposite side of the roadway to avoid potholes, ditches, or deteriorated areas, creating potential collision hazards.

These public-safety concerns will be important to document separately from general road-condition complaints.

Kidder Township and Possible Municipal Options

There was substantial discussion about whether Kidder Township could play a larger role.

One attendee who identified himself as a supervisor in another Pennsylvania second-class township described situations in his municipality where roads in private developments were eventually dedicated to the township. He suggested that a similar mechanism should be investigated here. That suggestion is an attendee proposal, not a township decision.

Kidder Township representatives and other attendees cautioned that Split Rock’s circumstances may be different because the roads are privately owned and because accepting responsibility for one private development could have implications for other private communities within the township.

No conclusion was reached that Kidder Township can or will take ownership of the Split Rock roads. The meeting identified this as an important legal question requiring review by the Township solicitor and/or independent counsel.

Questions to investigate include:

• Whether some or all Split Rock roads could legally be dedicated to Kidder Township
• What approvals or cooperation from the current road owner would be required
• Whether roads would first need to meet municipal or PennDOT construction standards
• What financial obligations the Township would assume
• Whether municipal ownership would make particular state grants or transportation funding available
• Whether the Township can adopt ordinances addressing specific public-safety concerns on private roads without assuming ownership
• What immediate mechanisms may exist for winter maintenance or emergency-access hazards

Road-Maintenance Financial Information

Residents repeatedly asked for greater transparency concerning road-maintenance assessments and expenditures.

During the meeting, a financial report was referenced showing a reported past-due road-maintenance balance of approximately $379,852.72 for the period discussed in the meeting. That figure was presented from a previously received report and should not be interpreted as a complete or current accounting of Split Rock road finances. The underlying report period and source file still need confirmation against the exhibits on this site.

Residents also reported possessing spreadsheets, emails, and other communications concerning road-maintenance collections and expenditures. Obtaining a complete accounting remains an important objective.

The community is seeking documentation showing, among other things:

• Road-maintenance assessments billed
• Amounts collected
• Delinquent balances
• Maintenance expenditures
• Snow-removal expenditures
• Contractor payments
• Capital road improvements
• Outstanding obligations
• The entity or entities responsible for receiving and managing those funds

These questions should be resolved through documentation rather than assumptions about how funds have been used. See Finances and the circulated road-maintenance summary exhibits for material already in the public project file.

Related project pages: Finances · Source exhibits · 2024 summary image · 2025 H1 summary image

Legal Questions

Several attendees raised questions about whether the condition of the roads or handling of road-maintenance funds could create civil, consumer-protection, or potentially other legal claims.

No determination was made at the meeting that fraud, criminal conduct, or another violation has occurred.

The consensus reported in the recap was that these questions should be evaluated by qualified legal counsel after the relevant deeds, agreements, financial records, correspondence, and evidence have been assembled.

Residents also discussed obtaining legal advice before making decisions such as withholding road-maintenance assessments or redirecting payments elsewhere, because unpaid assessments may potentially result in liens or other consequences. That discussion is not an instruction to withhold payments.

Formal Notice / Certified Letters

A significant proposed next step is sending formal certified correspondence regarding the road conditions and documented safety concerns.

Rather than hundreds of residents independently sending different notices, the concept discussed was a coordinated notice sent to the entities believed to have ownership, management, or other relevant responsibility.

Before those letters are sent, the recipient list, ownership relationships, legal addresses, and wording should be verified. The objective is to create a documented record that responsible parties were formally notified of the conditions and requested to respond with information and a plan.

Evidence Collection

Residents were strongly encouraged to continue submitting documentation through SplitRockRoads.com.

Useful evidence includes:

• Photographs and videos of road conditions
• Dates and locations of photographs
• Vehicle damage associated with road conditions
• Emails or letters sent to or received from Split Rock or related entities
• Road-maintenance invoices or assessments
• Financial reports or spreadsheets
• Snow-removal concerns
• Emergency-response concerns
• Documentation involving police, fire, EMS, or Kidder Township
• Historical documents concerning road ownership or maintenance
• Prior requests for repairs or financial information

Original documents should be retained whenever possible. Dates, locations, and surrounding context are particularly valuable.

Submit information · Road Survey

Community Organization

Multiple residents recommended establishing a more formal working committee. The purpose would not be to replace existing community organizations but to create a focused group responsible for coordinating the road effort.

Potential responsibilities include evidence management, legal coordination, government outreach, communications, financial oversight, and meeting organization.

Residents interested in contributing professional expertise—including legal, engineering, accounting, municipal government, construction, communications, or financial experience—are encouraged to participate.

Proposed Follow-up After the Meeting

The source draft labeled the following list “Agreed Direction.” Until verified against a recording or other approved source as a formal vote or binding commitment, these items are presented here as proposed follow-up discussed after the meeting—not as assigned tasks with named owners or deadlines.

1. Continue evidence collection through SplitRockRoads.com.
2. Make the Pennsylvania Attorney General consumer-complaint process available to residents and coordinate supporting documentation where appropriate.
3. Prepare formal certified correspondence to the entities believed to have responsibility for the roads, after confirming the appropriate entities and addresses.
4. Identify qualified legal counsel to review road ownership, deed obligations, assessments, potential remedies, and municipal options.
5. Engage Kidder Township regarding immediate public-safety concerns, potential ordinance/enforcement options, winter access, and the longer-term question of road dedication.
6. Document emergency-service impacts, including information from fire, police, and EMS.
7. Continue investigating the financial record surrounding road-maintenance assessments, collections, delinquencies, and expenditures.
8. Establish a resident working committee to coordinate these efforts and provide regular updates to the community.

Moving Forward

The objective remains straightforward: establish who is responsible for the roads, obtain transparency regarding the funds collected for their maintenance, address immediate safety concerns, and develop a documented short- and long-term plan for maintaining safe roads within Split Rock.

The community does not need to resolve every legal or financial question immediately. The next phase is about building the factual record, obtaining professional guidance, and converting the concerns raised at this meeting into specific, documented actions.

Residents can continue following the effort and submitting information through SplitRockRoads.com. Future updates, documents, meeting information, and action items will be published as they become available. No next meeting date is listed here until one is confirmed.