Duquesne City Finances Continue To Improve

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
August 18, 2022
Posted in: Duquesne News

Before Duquesne City Manager Kelly Robertson left the municipality for a different job, she noted that helping to improve finances was one of her biggest accomplishments. According to city leaders, making finances more efficient is progressing.

While delivering the finance report at this week’s city council meeting, City Councilman Derek Artim noted that new budget forms are coming and spending policies will change.

He said that all receipts will be accounted for at the end of each month, and receipts, such as gasoline purchases for city automobiles, will have to include the vehicle used. “This will assure the validity of charges,” Artim said.

Solicitor Myron Sainovich said the new measures will provide a “matter of record” for spending. Council ratified the measures 4-0. Councilman Timothy Caldwell was absent. Sainovich said the new policies will be posted for all affected workers and the policy should be fully in effect by the end of the year.

Act 47 Coordinator George Dougherty agreed that the city’s finances continue to improve. He noted that mid-year financial reviews are “looking good” and that the budget spending is “51 percent of expectations.” He said that the implementations to manage financial policies going forward are positive.

Duquesne City Council is also looking to move its monthly meetings from the third Tuesday of the month to the first Tuesday of the month. Mayor Scott Adams noted that he is “reading July’s reports in mid-August.”

Officials wanted to make sure the meeting date wouldn’t interfere with the School Board’s meeting and they were assured that the move didn’t. Council voted 4-0 to make the move. Acting City Manager George Newsome is to advertise the move. The meeting would still take place at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall.

In related news, Duquesne officials reported that air conditioning and heating repairs have made to city hall and that the difference is evident.

Council will vote next month on a motion to have each household in the city use trash cans for garbage pickup. If the popular refuse ordinance motion passes, Sainovich noted that placing garbage in bags on the sidewalk would no longer be permissible.

City Councilman Aaron Adams reported that the Duquesne’s fire hydrant replacement program was completed in July.

The Duquesne Public Works Department and Mike Kurta were thanked for helping to make Community Day a success on August 6.

Tom Leturgey is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh and the editor of KSWA Digest, the online news and features home of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance.

Originally published August 18, 2022.

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