Duquesne Schedules January Meetings

December 05, 2025 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News

Duquesne City Council’s reorganizational meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5.

The next Home Rule Government Study Commission meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20.

For 2026, Duquesne Holds Line on Budget

December 05, 2025 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne will hold the line on property taxes for 2026.

City council this week passed a budget that keeps tax levies at their current “blended” rate of 20 mills, of which 17 mills are designated for the general fund, two for debt service and one for fire service. Each mill represents $1 of tax on every $1,000 of a property’s value.

The millage is called “blended” because Duquesne is one of three municipalities in Allegheny County that levies separate rates on buildings and land.

However, city water rates will increase 10 percent, with 3.3 percent of the increase going to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, while the city’s municipal service fee also will increase 10 percent, with 7.5 percent going to Duquesne’s contracted trash hauler, County Hauling.

Duquesne May Close Center Street in Winter

November 18, 2025 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

A vehicle prepares to descend Center Street in Duquesne. (Tube City Almanac photo)

Duquesne City Council is considering closing Center Street from Pine Alley to Oak Street during the winter to conserve salt during bad winter weather.

The closure would allow residents on Pine and Oak to access their homes, but would not allow the steep, cobblestone street to be used as a throughway.

Council Member Denise Brownfield noted that city officials should look at detours during times of closure and said that residents of Oak Street park on both sides of the road, which may limit travel.

Officials said they will take a ride in that area and see how many people park on both sides of the road, then report back to council at a workshop meeting.

Duquesne Council Considers Fee Increases

November 17, 2025 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne City Council is planning to hold the line on real estate taxes in 2026, but is considering increases in fees for water, trash collection and other services.

At this month’s council meeting, the city presented its first reading of the 2026 budget.

The budget holds the city’s blended real estate tax millage at 20 mills, which includes 17 mills for the general fund, 2 mills for debt and 1 mill for the volunteer fire department. One mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

At 20 mills, a house in Duquesne with a fair market value of $75,000 would pay $1,500 in city real estate tax.

Two Polling Places Move in Duquesne

November 03, 2025 |

By Submitted Report | Posted in: Duquesne News, Politics & Elections

Two polling places in Duquesne will move to new locations for Tuesday’s election, Allegheny County officials announced.

Voters in precincts 3-1 and 3-3 who usually vote at St. Peter and Paul Byzantine Church Social Hall will vote instead at the Orchard Park Apartment Offices, 1001 Ridge St.

A county spokeswoman said approximately two dozen total polling locations have moved since the last election, so every voter is encouraged to check their polling place and make a plan to cast their ballots. Voters can check their polling place here.

Dravosburg Man Dead in Duquesne Shooting

November 03, 2025 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News

A Dravosburg man died early Monday morning following a shooting at a house party in Duquesne.

Shawn O’Leary, 32, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said.

Allegheny County police said emergency personnel were called to a home in the 1000 block of Crawford Avenue just before 1 a.m. for a report of shots fired and discovered a victim, identified as O’Leary, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

County homicide detectives are investigating. In a release, police said preliminary information shows there was a house party at the residence when the shooting occurred.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the county police tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.

New Plant in Duquesne Appears Dead

October 31, 2025 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

Last year, Duquesne officials approved plans by EOS Energy to build this manufacturing facility in the city. City officials say they’re disappointed and saddened that the company has apparently abandoned the project without telling anyone. (Illustration courtesy Gateway Engineers via City of Duquesne)

Eos Energy Enterprises has apparently abandoned plans to construct a manufacturing facility in Duquesne — but no one bothered to tell city officials.

In 2024, New Jersey-based Eos Energy Enterprises, which operates a factory in Turtle Creek, received planning approval from Duquesne officials for a 181,000-square-foot facility on the site of the former U.S. Steel Duquesne Plant that would have employed 300 to 400 people.

But since then, the company has gone quiet, even after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that Eos plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Pittsburgh’s North Side and open its new manufacturing facility in Marshall Twp. in northern Allegheny County instead.

“All of us — the city, our city manager, all the council members, the planning commission, zoning board — nobody had any idea,” said Duquesne City Councilman Aaron Adams. “We were caught off-guard (when) the announcement came out from the state and county.”

Duquesne Seeks Price on Water System

October 09, 2025 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

Duquesne City Council will put a price on the possible sale of its water system, but said there are no plans to divest the municipality of the water department.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, the city authorized administrators to request proposals for the sale of the Duquesne water distribution system.

City officials said the request for proposals will allow the city to determine the market value of its water system before investing in needed upgrades to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Environmental Protection requirements.

Duquesne faces “significant liabilities and responsibilities that come with running a system of our size and significant resources are going to be needed” to meet EPA and DEP mandates, city officials said.

Duquesne Sets Zoning, Home Rule Sessions

September 03, 2025 |

By Staff Reports | Posted in: Announcements, Duquesne News

The Duquesne zoning hearing board will meet at 1 p.m. Sept. 8 to consider a request for a variance, city officials said.

The request was made by Carolyn Thomas, who wants to operate a day care at 1050 Grant Ave. The property is in a commercial zoning district.

The home rule government study commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15.

Duquesne Promotes Officer to Detective

September 03, 2025 |

By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News

Veteran Duquesne police officer Patrick Vroman was unanimously promoted to detective sergeant at Duquesne City Council’s first general meeting back since July. The promotion does not include a pay increase, according to Mayor R. Scott Adams.

Council also introduced the city’s new code enforcement officer, Dave Sabo. Sabo’s phone number is (412) 466-4746, ext. 2118 and his email is dsabo@duquesnepa.us for residents who need to contact him.

During his Public Safety report, Mayor Adams said they are still working on a proclamation for former Duquesne City Council Member Eugene “Gene” Capristo, who died in June at the age of 97.

Council also unanimously approved the appointment of Council Member Denise Brownfield as a delegate to the Steel Rivers Council of Governments. The meetings are on the first Thursday of the month at various locations.