Community Day, Recycling Event Successes Praised in W.O.

By Cami DiBattista
The Tube City Almanac
August 23, 2018
Posted in: White Oak News

White Oak Borough Community Day was a successful, well-attended event, Councilman Lou Bender said at Monday’s borough council meeting.

The annual event, which included an exotic animal show, performance by a local dance group, several musical sets and fireworks, drew many residents from White Oak and neighboring communities.

“Council sends a big thank you to Michelle Gessner and the White Oak Recreation Board for organizing the event,” Council President David Pasternak said.

A community–wide yard sale is slated for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the borough. A rain date is set for Aug. 26.

In other business:

Councilman Steve Pholar reported that the electronics and household hazardous waste recycling collection conducted last month was a success, and 2,042 pounds of universal and household hazardous waste and 5,286 pounds of electronic waste were collected.

A copy of the amended end of summer hours for the White Oak Heritage Hill Pool is available at the municipal building or on the White Oak Borough Facebook page.

Borough engineer Kenneth Hillman gave an analysis and report concerning the construction of the new salt shed. Bids for the project ended up being higher than anticipated and allotted for the project.

At this time, council has decided to reject the current bids and extend the completion date for the project through November.

Borough Manager John Palyo said White Oak currently has around 300 to 400 tons of salt to utilize should an early snow hit in November, and he feels the Public Works department “would be equipped to handle an extension.”

During the Public Works report, Councilman Chuck Davis reported that the seasonal wood chipping program will conclude this month. Final dates to take advantage of the free program are Aug. 23 and 30.

Mayor Ina Jean Marton gave the police report which included a total of 738 incidents for the month of July, resulting in 17 adult arrests.  Charges include one assault, five disorderly conduct, seven drug offenses, three DUI charges, and one false identification to a law enforcement officer. Sixty-three traffic violations were also issued.

During the public comments section of the borough meeting, several White Oak residents expressed dissatisfaction with the addition of new stop signs throughout the borough, questioning the necessity and stating that it was an inconvenience to residents.

Council responded that the additional stop signs were recommended by the state and the matter was given serious consideration over the course of a two year period. Proper assessments were conducted by the police department to determine at which intersections the signs should be placed.

Residents asked if council would consider removing the sign between Guise Street and Vermont Avenue, because they said it posed a safety hazard in inclement weather due to the steep grade of the roads.

Additionally, a resident addressed the issue of large trucks coming down Eisenhower Drive. She said she has noticed an increase in activity of large vehicles on the hill and fears they many lose their brakes which could create a potential safety hazard to the homes on Vermont at the bottom of the steep grade.

A council workshop meeting is slated for 6:45 p.m. Sept. 10 and Sept. 17, with a council meeting following at 8 p.m. Sept. 17.

Cami DiBattista is a freelance writer who covers municipal news from Duquesne and White Oak, along with other topics, for Tube City Almanac. She may be reached at cad316@gmail.com.

Originally published August 23, 2018.

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