Duquesne OK’s No-Parking Ordinance

Zones include Crawford, Overland

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
October 08, 2024
Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne City Council has passed an ordinance to restrict parking on two streets where residents and emergency personnel have identified problems.

At the October meeting, council by 4-0 vote adopted an ordinance establishing “No Parking Anytime Zones” on Crawford Avenue  between South Fifth Street and Mifflin Street, and on Overland Avenue between Richford Street and Clearview Avenue. Councilman Aaron Adams was absent on business.

Council also passed a new Property Maintenance Code by a 4-0 vote.

During Mayor R. Scott Adams’ Public Safety report, council discussed the possibility of public vehicle charging stations for electric vehicles. Officials are currently in talks with the school district, which owns the property adjacent to City Hall, about creating a charging station. Currently, council is talking about having two or three electric connections available for public use.

In her Public Works Department report, Councilperson Elaine Washington noted that the city has received a final cost quote for an excavator. The cost is set at $185,722. “It would help with demolition of houses destroyed by fire,” she said. The money for the equipment would come from the city’s liquid fuel tax funds.

Moving the heavy equipment must be decided upon as the city doesn’t own a tractor large enough for the excavator, declared City Manager Douglas Sample. Renting a trailer to move the excavator could cost the city between $300-$600 annually.

The equipment would be used for more than house demolition, according to city officials. It could come in handy for road reconstruction, water line replacement and anything else that needs digging.

A resident asked via Zoom what would happen to the debris once the excavator levels a property. Council noted that the land would be filled, and grass planted to help make the land more desirable for reuse.

In the Treasurer’s Report, Maureen Stahl said that approximately 80 percent of taxes owed to the city this year hjave been collected. Mayor Adams said that some of the outstanding balance is likely uncollectable.

Council Member Denise Brownfield gave an overview of the Local Share Account grant procedure and said the next deadline to apply for municipal grants is Nov. 30. She said that potential grants for city spending could range from a $25,000 minimum to a $1 million maximum with no “matching funds” required.

In other business, City Engineer Laura Branthoover presented the second and third reading of Allegheny County’s Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan, which is required by state law. Council adopted the plan 4-0.

Duquesne Volunteer Fire Department Chief Frank Cobb detailed an activity report that spanned from April to the present, as he had missed a number of those meetings. The Duquesne fire department responded to a total of 351 calls, he said.

There were nine house fires, and four families were displaced. Brownfield asked for Cobb to follow up with contact information with those families so the Red Cross and other “adopt a family” organizations could be of assistance.

Originally published October 08, 2024.

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