Millcreek Township to vote on Quality of Life ordinance, budget in December

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to advertise drafts of a Quality of Life ordinance and the 2026 budget at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

As previously discussed by the board, a Quality of Life ordinance allows a code enforcement official to ticket residents for outdoor violations. Violations listed by the ordinance are, verbatim, as follows:

• Accumulation of rubbish or garbage
• Animal maintenance and waste/feces clean up
• Disposal of rubbish or garbage/dumping
• High weeds, grass or plant growth
• Littering or scattering rubbish
• Motor vehicles (specifically, unregistered, uninspected, inoperative, unlicensed, or nuisance vehicles)
• Outside placement of indoor appliances/furniture
• [Violation of] Ownership presumption of waste, trash and/or recyclables for illegal dumping and illegal hauling
• [Lack of] Snow and ice removal from sidewalks
• [Improper] Storage containers for waste or trash
• [Improper] Storing of hazardous materials
• [Improper] Storing of Recyclables
• [Improperly maintained] Swimming pools
• Public nuisance
• Nuisance

The ordinance establishes fines for violations with occurrences tracked over a 12-month period. First violations come with a $25 fine, second offenses incur $50, and third offenses cost $100. Each subsequent offense generates a $200 fine.

In addition, certain types of violations may be handled by the township at the cost of the property owner. For instance, overgrown weeds may be cut by township staff, with a bill for the services being sent to the property owner in addition to ticket costs. This is something the township already has legal authority to do and has done on occasion.

Since the township adopted the International Property Maintenance Code, it has employed Karen Brown of Commonwealth Code Services to address outstanding violations. However, residents have complained that issues are not resolved quickly enough, with some complaining of yards that go un-mowed for entire seasons, multiple vehicles in a yard, and outdoor storage of junk.

Brown previously explained that the IPMC’s processes can be fairly drawn out. Solicitor Andrew Morrow began work on a Quality of Life ordinance to give the code enforcement official another avenue to address concerns.

The ordinance covers similar ground as the IPMC, only giving an enforcement official permission to ticket outdoor and visible violations.

Supervisors also unanimously agreed to advertise the 2026 budget to be adopted in December, with no plans for tax increases.

Current tax rates in Millcreek Township are as follows:

• Municipal real estate tax: 1.33 mills
• Per capita tax rate: $5
• Local services tax: $52
• Streetlight tax: 77 cents per front footage, developed, 19 cents per front footage, undeveloped
• Hydrant tax: .054 mills

Supervisors have discussed implementing a fire tax beginning in 2027.

Read More: Millcreek Township supervisors plan for 2027 fire tax and incentive program

The full budget will soon be available for review in the township building.

In other news, supervisors:

• Unanimously agreed to apply for the 2025 cycle of the Community Development Block Grant with a Fair Housing Resolution, with the intent to pay for repairs to the homes of low-income residents. Low-income residents with necessary home repairs are asked to reach out to the township to arrange participation in the program.

Read More: Millcreek Twp. redirects funds to housing rehab while eyeing post office upgrades

• Unanimously approved an agreement with the Good family for a 60-day timeline to remove an unauthorized senior dwelling and restore the property to its former state.
• Heard that several member terms for township boards are expiring, and directed the township manager to see if the position holders are open to extending their terms.
• Unanimously approved meeting dates for 2026, with plans to meet the second Wednesday of each month except a reorganization meeting in January.
• Unanimously agreed to renew a $2.1 million treasurer bond.
• Unanimously approved a trap-and-release annual contract with No Nonsense, with a $15 fee per cat and 44 cats altered this year.
• Unanimously agreed to pay $2,356.02 for the Central Square software annual maintenance fee.
• Unanimously agreed to make a budgeted $1,250 donation to Millcreek Rod and Gun, which holds kids’ programs for gun safety and fishing.
• Unanimously approved minutes and reports.

Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.