Correction: Samuel Sulkosky’s name was misspelled in earlier versions of this story. We apologize for the error. -JT
Duquesne has another new city manager. Samuel Sulkosky has been hired by the city, but was not officially appointed at the June 6 general meeting.
A vote to appoint him was tabled, because other members of the newly-configured city administration were unable to attend the monthly meeting. The official designation will take place at July’s general meeting.
Council did, however, vote to give Sulkosky signator powers on city checking accounts.
Former City Manager Kelly Robertson left the city for another job late last year. George Newsome, who had worked under Robertson, was tapped interim city manager until January, when Scott Crawford was hired.
Crawford’s tenure ended by March, and Mary Lou Bittner served as interim until Sulkosky was tapped. Bittner remains with the city, but was not at the meeting.
Duquesne officials are working on ways to make absentee landlords and other property owners more responsible for blighted and neglected land.
“Some properties are not being taken care of,” Mayor R. Scott Adams said at this month’s council meeting. “The city is cutting grass. We have to find a way to bill (property owners).”
Solicitor Myron Sainovich said the city has ordinances in its municipal planning code for such measures. Property owners could be sent leaders threatening to send invoices for services rendered, he said, adding that some property owners — such as banks — provide crews to do some of the work.
For Duquesne City Councilman Derek Artim, the second time running for office was the charm.
On May 16, the Duquesne native ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and with no Republicans running, Artim — barring a successful write-in campaign by a challenger — is expected to win a full four-year term in November.
A corporate operations officer for Dollar Bank, Artim said he wanted to put his 21 years’ worth of retail banking experience to work in his hometown, which is preparing to exit Act 47 state financial oversight. The city has been under financially distressed status since 1991.
CORRECTION: The name of Denise Brownfield was incorrect in the earlier version of this story. We apologize to Ms Brownfield for the mistake.
Several Duquesne residents have been recognized by city council for their efforts to improve their neighborhoods.
At a recent meeting, City Councilwoman Elaine Washington pointed out a number of residents who have gone above and beyond their civic responsibility and helped clean up and beautify the community.
One of those spotlighted by Washington was longtime resident Catherine M. Scharding.
Scharding said she suspected that Duquesne might now have more landlords than homeowners who occupy their properties. So she met with officials and other residents who wanted to make a difference.
Duquesne will use $51,000 to demolish several vacant homes, and officials are also looking at two additional properties that may need attention.
At this month’s meeting, city Solicitor Myron Sainovich said the properties in question are 11 S. Fifth St., 117 N. Fourth St., 1006 Sherman Ave. and 32 Meadow St. Residents also asked the city to evaluate 114 N. Fifth St. and 721 Mifflin St., to see if they need to be boarded up.
There was also discussion with council regarding street repair, namely on two sections of Center Street. Council decided to look into the cost of repairs and follow up at a later meeting.
The City of Duquesne will file paperwork to exit state oversight on May 19.
At this month’s council meeting, Act 47 Coordinator George Dougherty reported that after the paperwork is filed, the public will be invited to attend a meeting at City Hall on June 8 to comment and make suggestions about the proposed plan for the city to leave “financially distressed” status.
State Act 47 of 1987, also known as the Financially Distressed Communities Act, was created in the wake of the collapse of the steel industry. It gives fiscally strapped municipalities the chance to access state government assistance, restructure their debt and take other steps to restore financial health, in exchange for being subject to increased scrutiny by state officials.
Duquesne has been classified as “financially distressed” since 1991. Only five other communities — Aliquippa, Braddock, Rankin, Franklin in Cambria County, and Farrell in Mercer County — have been on the list longer.
Duquesne residents who have seen their sewerage bills increase as much as 29 percent are complaining to city council.
Councilman Aaron Adams noted that he has received many calls from concerned citizens after they received their most recent invoices. Sewerage in Duquesne is handled by Pennsylvania American Water Co., which purchased the McKeesport municipal sewer authority in December 2017.
The rate increase was approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, not by the city, Adams said.
While a Duquesne City Council resolution for landlords to register tenants has been on the books since 2000, little has been done to enforce the rule. That’s about to change.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Aaron Adams said a rental-registry was created 23 years ago and updated in 2019, but there hasn’t been much effort to enforce the regulation.
Council voted 4-0 this week to impose an annual rental registry fee of $60 for rented single-family homes, $100 for duplexes and $150 for larger multi-unit buildings.
Duquesne City Council on Tuesday night voted to dissolve its little-used Redevelopment Authority, and is in the process of joining Allegheny County’s larger agency.
By a 4-0 vote, with Councilman Timothy Caldwell absent, city officials went through with previously-discussed plans to eliminate the authority.
Mayor Scott Adams said the city originally planned until a new city manager was hired, but ultimately decided that they needed to get it done.
Solicitor Myron Sainovich said that all of the proper paperwork has been delivered to his office and the next step in the process is to join Allegheny County’s infrastructure agency. A resolution was then adopted, 4-0, for the city to participate in the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County’s RAAC Vacant Property Recovery Program.
A video produced by Divine Restoration Church of God in Christ is being used to introduce the “Wake Up!” campaign to Duquesne. Organizers are hoping the message takes root in McKeesport, as well. (YouTube)
Rallies in McKeesport and Duquesne this week will bring together multiple faiths and community organizations in an effort to urge young people to “Wake Up!” from their apathy and work to reduce gun violence.
Walkers will gather at 1:30 p.m. Thursday (March 30) at the Healthy Village Learning Institute, located at the former St. Pius V School, then walk along Versailles Avenue to the Family Dollar store at 3215 Versailles Ave.
“We timed this so that kids would be coming home from school about that time,” says the Rev. Jessica McClure Archer, pastor of Sampson’s Mills Presbyterian Church in White Oak. “We want to tell them, ‘wake up, you’re beautiful, you’re smart.’ We want to speak into the void of hopelessness so many of them are feeling.”
That walk is open to the public.
On Friday, Duquesne School District teachers and staff will attend a separate event being organized by the Rev. Eric Ewell, pastor of Divine Restoration Church of God in Christ and director of continuing education at Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus.
