February 05, 2019 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
A $30,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign will be used to create and implement an outdoor fitness court in Duquesne.
The facility, which is expected to be constructed by the end of the 2019 calendar year, will be free to use for community residents and visitors, Mayor Nickole Nesby announced.
At January's regular meeting, council approved a motion to hold a workshop and planning session on the second Tuesday of each month, with a voting meeting on a fourth Tuesday of each month. Both meetings will continue to be open to the public.
In other business:
Council has repealed a previous ordinance that would have increased the mayor's salary to $65,000 per year following the next mayoral election.
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January 29, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
(Cha già José photo via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0.)
With temperatures predicted to drop below 0 in the Mon-Yough area this week, the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County has issued tips for keeping water pipes from freezing:
Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses, so freeze conditions don't burst the faucet or pipe to which the hose is connected
Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas (garages, attics, crawl spaces) before freezing temperatures arrive
Consider installing "heat tape" or "heat cable" on all exposed water lines. Heat tape can be found at hardware and home improvement stores.
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January 29, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Announcements
(The Ohio River froze at Point State Park, Pittsburgh, in January 2014. Photo by Matt Niemi via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0.)
(This story will be updated with new information as it becomes available)
Local school districts are canceling classes and McKeesport is opening a warming shelter as a so-called "polar vortex" swoops into the Mon-Yough area this week.
McKeesport Area, Clairton, East Allegheny and South Allegheny school districts have canceled all classes and school-related activities for students on Wednesday and Thursday, according to spokespersons, while Norwin School District will be closed Wednesday.
Penn State Greater Allegheny also will be closed Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Moon Twp. has issued a wind-chill advisory from 5 a.m. Wednesday through 5 p.m. Thursday. Forecasters said that with air temperatures dropping to near 0 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, and winds reaching 30 mph, the temperatures will feel like 20 below 0.
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January 28, 2019 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
(Allegheny County real estate photo)
White Oak council has given its approval for the transfer of a vacant house on Ohio Avenue to the Tri-COG Land Bank.
The one-story home at 1808 Ohio will only be transferred if McKeesport Area School District and Allegheny County consent, said Dave Pasternak, White Oak council president.
Pasternak said he's hopeful that the transfer, if approved, will result in the house being refurbished and sold to a new owner. According to county tax records, the house has been tax-delinquent for several years.
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January 28, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Announcements
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner will hold a public meeting at Carnegie Library of McKeesport to find out how residents are being affected by the upcoming split between UPMC Health System and Highmark.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the library, 1507 Library Ave.
Advance registration is suggested by calling (412) 672-0625.
A spokesman for Wagner said people who cannot attend are invited to submit their stories via the county controller's website.
UPMC has been feuding with Highmark for years. UPMC operates its own health insurance plan in competition with Highmark's Blue Cross and Blue Shield programs, while Highmark is the parent company of the Allegheny Health Network, which includes doctors and hospitals that compete with UPMC's.
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January 28, 2019 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
U.S. Steel: Repairs to pollution equipment expected to take four months
(U.S. Steel photo)
Four state legislators will hold a town-hall style public hearing in Clairton to discuss a Dec. 24 fire at U.S. Steel's Clairton Plant, and the aftermath.
State Sen. Jim Brewster said that joint Senate-House Democratic Policy Committee hearing will begin at 12 noon Feb. 7 at the Clairton Municipal Building, 551 Ravensburg Blvd.
Also scheduled to attend, along with officials from the Allegheny County Health Department, are state Sen. Jay Costa and state Reps. Austin Davis and Bill Kortz.
Meanwhile, U.S. Steel said that the pollution control equipment damaged in the fire could be out of service for up to four months, but that the company is working "around the clock to make the necessary repairs."
The company has set up a special website at www.clairton.uss.com to provide updates directly to the public.
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January 27, 2019 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: Duquesne News
A distressed municipality for nearly 30 years, Duquesne is hoping to be self-sufficient in the near future.
At last week's council meeting, the city's Act 47 Coordinator, George Dougherty, reported that Duquesne is coming to the end of its final five-year Act 47 plan.
“Beginning in 2020, we have to get the finances and management in a place where the city will be able to float on (its) own and come out of Act 47 status,” said Dougherty, who was appointed by the state in October to represent the community. “I’m really hoping to see Duquesne move forward in becoming self-sufficient.”
Dougherty has been working to develop a budget for Duquesne, which has been an Act 47 municipality since 1991. Recently, he began drafting an "exit plan" from the assistance program.
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January 25, 2019 |
By Richard Finch Jr. | Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
(North Versailles Twp. photo)
North Versailles Twp. will seek $140,234 from the Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund for renovations at Fairhaven Park.
At their January meeting, commissioners authorized Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Green to apply for a grant from the CITF fund.
In other business:
The cost to rent the hall at the township Community Center has gone up, from $175 to $250 for residents and from $300 to $400 for non-residents, effective immediately. Commissioners voted to approve the change.
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January 25, 2019 |
By Cami DiBattista | Posted in: White Oak News
White Oak Council has moved to file municipal liens for nearly a half-million dollars in delinquent garbage accounts.
At their January meeting, council members authorized the law firm of Dodaro, Matta and Cambest to file liens for unpaid garbage collection fees from the past three years. Filing the liens will cost $19,938.08.
Last month, council authorized borough officials to "scrub" the delinquent accounts to remove the names of demolished properties and deceased residents, so that officials could determine which accounts were still active.
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January 25, 2019 |
By Submitted Report | Posted in: Announcements
Free income tax preparation help will be available for area senior citizens in February and March.
The sessions will be held on Fridays at the McKeesport office of state Rep. Austin Davis, located at 627 Lysle Blvd.
The AARP Tax Aide Program will offer the free assistance from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays from Feb. 22 through March 29. Appointments must be made in advance and can be scheduled by calling (412) 664-0035.
Davis said his staff also will be available to help senior citizens with Property Tax or Rent Rebate applications and enroll in any of the state’s programs for which they’re eligible.
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