January 03, 2024 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne's elected officials for 2024 (from left): Councilmembers Elaine Washington, Derek Artim, and Denise Brownfield, Mayor Scott Adams and Councilman Aaron Adams. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)
District Magistrate Scott H. Schricker was busy Tuesday, with multiple stops for municipalities’ reorganization meetings, including his home municipality, Duquesne.
Schricker, who is entering his 21st year on the bench, swore in incumbent Derek Artim for his first full term on city council, as well as a debuting Denise Brownfield.
Brownfield won an open seat when now-former City Councilman Tim Caldwell chose not to run for re-election. Caldwell had not attended a Duquesne City Council business meeting for more than a year.
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December 21, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
(Tom Leturgey photo)
City of Duquesne residents could have their water service back to normal by this evening (Dec. 21). That’s the hope of officials who are working with public works employees to fix two water main breaks. Water pressure has been limited to some homes in the city since Wednesday night.
“We have two breaks currently that we are aware of, one at Center Street and one is on Oak Street,” City Councilman Aaron R. Adams, water department chair, said in an email Thursday morning. Because of the water loss, he said, levels in the city’s reservoir dropped, causing more water outages across the city.
At noon on Thursday, water was still running down the bottom, brick part of Crawford Avenue. Meanwhile, City Manager Douglas Sample was on hand with city workers in heavy equipment as they dug up the water line at the corner of Oak and Center streets.
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December 08, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
The family of popular business and community leader Lee “Spanky” Zabelsky was on hand to receive a proclamation from Duquesne City Council. From left: Stephanie Zabelsky, Jake Zabelsky, Mayor R. Scott Adams, Lavon Zabelsky, Lenny Zabelsky and Luke Zabelksy. “Spanky” Zabelsky passed away suddenly at 53. (Tom Leturgey photo for Tube City Almanac)
Duquesne City Council on Tuesday altered its agenda slightly to accommodate the family of Lee “Spanky” Zabelsky, 53, who passed away suddenly in October. Council and an emotional Mayor R. Scott Adams presented Zabelsky’s family with a proclamation.
“Spanky” was the co-owner of Leo’s Service Center on Duquesne Boulevard with members of his family and was a contract tow operator for the city of Duquesne.
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December 06, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne home and business owners aren’t expected to see a property tax increase in 2024, but they “may” see sewage and water rates go up.
The proposed 2024 budget approved at Tuesday’s meeting sets spending for the year at $1.15 million, roughly the same as the 2023 budget. The spending plan is available for review on the city’s website.
The city’s proposed budget will be presented to the public again at a council meeting on Dec. 19 before council votes to approve it.
Councilwoman Elaine Washington noted that a “full staff” of municipal workers have been doing a “good job picking up trash and painting city hall.” She also noted that workers have been “doing what we need to do” to keep the city “clean and clear.”
Councilman Aaron Adams said that the city’s water testing has been “all clear” for the past month and fluorine levels were within the threshold of where they need to be for residents. He also said that there were no water main breaks in November; however, on Dec. 1 there was one in the city.
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November 16, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council’s meeting Tuesday night was one of the quickest of this calendar year at 38 minutes, but officials went through some important items.
City residents may see an increase in their sewage rates next year. “We received a template from Pennsylvania American Water Co. with ‘here’s why,’” said Councilman Aaron Adams. He noted that there were no definitive numbers yet, but rates may increase.
Adams countered that there will still be assistance plans available for those low-income residents who may need assistance. “And there might be discounts based on income.” The council hopes to know more about the matter by next month’s meeting.
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October 15, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council is not happy with the company that has been contracted to fix its municipal pump station project.
The city is concerned that the contractor who bid on the pump station project is “not completing the work in a timely manner that they were contracted to do,” wrote Duquesne City Councilman Aaron Adams in an email.
City officials have been frustrated because the contractor has been slow in programming the new water pump controls for the new pumps to operate.
“We’ve waited long enough,” Adams said during his Water Department report at the October city council meeting. “We keep asking for a schedule.”
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October 09, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
At Duquesne City Council’s September meeting, several residents addressed leaders about tight parking conditions on Richford Street. At the October meeting, Police Chief William Shaw reported that residents were still parking on both sides of the street.
Last month, residents seemingly targeted one resident who was reportedly causing parking issues. There were concerns that emergency and other municipal vehicles wouldn’t be able to traverse the area.
“We need to put an ordinance in place,” said Councilman Aaron Adams.
That lead council into a discussion on what legally needs to be ironed out to enforce a new “no parking” sign on a city street, and whether they need to be formally approved by council.
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October 04, 2023 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Mary Louis Bittner joked with Duquesne Solicitor Myron Sainovich that this is her “fourth” swing at serving as “interim city manager” for the city.
At its Oct. 3 meeting, city council voted 4-0 (with Councilman Tim Caldwell absent) to appoint Bittner to the post after accepting Samuel Sulkosky’s resignation.
She will remain on the job until Oct. 23, when Douglas Sample is re-hired back with the city.
Currently the borough manager for Crafton, Sample worked as Duquesne City Manager just a few years ago. In 2020, Sample “wore two hats” for Duquesne, serving as city manager and part-time public works director. City Councilwoman Elaine Washington said she led the effort to get Sample back and worked to secure his services.
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September 17, 2023 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: Duquesne News, McKeesport and Region News
Community members recruited to be part of “The Village” recently greeted students as they arrived for the first day of school in Duquesne. (Submitted photo courtesy Allegheny Intermediate Unit)
Superintendents from the Clairton City, Duquesne City and McKeesport Area School Districts are spearheading efforts for greater communal support.
Through a newly formed program titled “The Village,” local school leaders are encouraging community members to help educate and mentor local children.
McKeesport Area Superintendent Tia Wanzo said she conceived of the idea in July. At the time, Wanzo was thinking about the African proverb, that it “takes a village to raise a child,” she said.
Wanzo reached out to Clairton City Superintendent Tamara Allen-Thomas and Duquesne City Superintendent Sue Mariani about gathering a group of villagers — business owners, clergy, school board members and retirees — to dedicate their time and wisdom to today’s youth.
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August 30, 2023 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
A Turtle Creek woman faces formal arraignment in Allegheny County Court after being accused of threatening the life of a district magistrate in Duquesne.
Rose Ann Kardell, 58, remains in the Allegheny County Jail pending the Sept. 29 hearing.
Kardell was charged July 20 by the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office with threatening harm against a public official, stalking, disorderly conduct and harassment after Magisterial District Judge Scott Schricker in Duquesne began receiving threatening text messages on his personal cell phone.
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