Published: November 27, 2008 08:07 am            

Finding resolve in sewage dispute | Amish, agencies seek permanent solution

We are among those who would welcome a just and amicable conclusion to a sewage dispute involving two Amish homeowners and two Cambria County agencies.

Cambria Judge Norman Krumenacker announced last week that a compromise appears to have been worked out. If so, we applaud the judge and others for their efforts. This has been a complicated and trying case, and one that has divided area residents over whether the Amish should be exempt from certain laws because of their religious beliefs.

The issue has been brewing for several months and involves two homeowners – one in Barr Township and the other in Blacklick Township – from an ultraconservative Amish sect.

The families have drawn the ire of the county sewage enforcement agency and the county building codes enforcement agency, both of which we commend for doing their jobs.

The agencies had sought an injunction to stop the families from living in their partially completed homes because the homes were not in compliance with building and sewage-disposal regulations.

The two agencies had contended that the families, by not meeting various regulations, would be dumping human waste illegally on their properties.

We have maintained throughout this case that while we respect the Amish culture and admire its strong religious convictions, we believe no one is above the law, established and enforced to protect the quality of life for all of us.

We have not changed our minds. The families knew, or should have known, our laws when they decided to become members of our communities. And when they did move in, they should have been willing to obey those laws.

In announcing a possible compromise, Krumenacker said that “what helped is that the law does provide some exemptions for them (based on religious beliefs).”

He’s also looking to halt similar litigation.

“We want to set standards to handle these matters in the future and not be re-litigating and fighting about them. We want standards so that the agencies in Cambria County have a guideline they can rely on and the Amish have one they can rely on,” the judge said.

That makes sense. But while we would like to see this case end, the health and well-being of neighbors must not be compromised. We firmly believe Judge Krumenacker will be looking out for their best interests.

Meanwhile, we eagerly await the final agreement.

        

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