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W.O. Building Projects Nearly Complete

By Sarah Turnbull
The Tube City Almanac
September 15, 2021
Posted in: White Oak News

Renovations on White Oak’s municipal and maintenance buildings are nearly complete, the borough’s engineer told council on Monday.

“Work on the borough building is 85 percent done, and the maintenance building is 80 percent done,” Borough Engineer Ken Hillman said at this week’s workshop meeting. “We’re just waiting on the approval of the rubber roof for the borough building, and we still need to do some gutter and flat roof work on the borough building.”

Hillman also announced that electrical work at Heritage Hill Pool has been in progress since after Labor Day.

In other news, the borough will be following up with the contractor who did the recent street-paving work, he said.

“We have issued a second punch list for the street paving program. A couple of residents have complained about damage,” Hillman said, adding he would have additional updates at the Sept. 20 meeting.

Borough Manager John Palyo told council it may be time for White Oak to change animal control providers, saying that “our current arrangement isn’t working.”

Council also must decide how to distribute funds from the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package approved by the U.S. Congress in March. More than $700 million was allocated to Allegheny County and the municipalities within it, according to a March press release from U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle.

“We’re currently holding our funds from the American Rescue Plan, but we need to decide how to distribute them,” Palyo said.

Councilwoman Julie Opferman said council should consider forming a committee to celebrate White Oak’s 75th anniversary in two years. Opferman, who chairs the parks and recreation committee, also asked whether council had considered holding a “Halloween decorating contest, just like we do for Christmas.”

The next council workshop meeting will be held at 6:45 p.m. Sep. 20 at the White Oak Athletic Association. Members of the public are welcome, and White Oak residents are permitted to make public comments.


Sarah Turnbull is a freelance writer in Irwin. She can be reached at sarahturnbull323@gmail.com.

Originally published September 15, 2021.

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