TYRONE - An act of kindness in Tyrone has run afoul of borough officials who say a wheelchair ramp must go.
George and Kathy Kaup crashed their motorcycle while riding in the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society's Bikers for Barkers ride July 6, crushing and breaking Kathy Kaup 's legs and leaving her in a wheelchair.
With supplies donated by the society and local business G&R Excavating, friends built the Kaups a ramp into their Lincoln Avenue home.
George Kaup said Tyrone Borough Code Enforcement told him Friday that he would have to take down the ramp because a permit was required for the project, and it wasn't designed to proper specifications.
''He said I had to have an engineer drawing of the steepness, and I said, 'You're crazy,''' George Kaup said.
He said he isn't taking the ramp down.
''They want your money,'' he said, referring to the borough's requirement of a building code and adherence to the state's Uniform Construction Code.
''I really can't comment on that right now - not until the the issue is resolved,'' said Jim Metzgar, code enforcement officer.
Metzgar said he planned to meet with George Kaup and take measurements of the ramp, which he indicated would need to be inspected. Because the family will only use the ramp for six to eight months, George Kaup can't understand why such measures are necessary.
''There's nothing wrong with that ramp,'' said Rich Weyer, who helped install the ramp that navigates the steps that lead to the Kaups' porch.
''He needed help because he and his wife were all banged up,'' Weyer said. ''It ain't a permanent ramp.''
Kathy Kaup goes into surgery next week and again in a few weeks to repair damage done by the wreck that nearly severed her left leg and her husband said the ramp was built last weekend so she could get from the house to a doctor's appointment earlier in the week.
''They showed up Sunday and said, 'We're here to build you a ramp,''' George Kaup said of Terry Hite and Weyer.
Kathy Kaup, wheelchair bound with pins keeping her legs immobile, said doctors told her she was ''healing at a slow pace.''
George Kaup suffered injuries to his right shoulder and still doesn't have full use of his right arm.
