DONALD L. KINOSZ
Department of Public Affairs
FRANK TROZZI, JR
Parks & Public Property
DAVID A. REGOLI
Accounts & Finance
IRENE J. KARRS
RICHARD W. LIPPERT
Streets & Public Improvements
Public Safety
VICTORIA FARINA
Treasurer
BRIAN ESHBAUGH
Controller
VOLUME 14
Messages from the Mayor
ISSUE 1
April 2005
center is developed the estimate is the
creation of about 400 jobs.
Businesses in Lower Burrell
First,
congratulations
to
the
StrongLand Chamber of Commerce
for the excellent Home Expo on the
first three days of April. The business
community receives a strong boost
from the show. Some of the vendors
expressed the show is the difference
between an average business year and
a very successful one.
As usual, I heard more rumors than I
can possibly deal with here. Let me
say though unless officially announced
in the media or through the City,
rumors are just that... rumors.
Here are some of the both exciting and
challenging
activities
that
are
occurring.
A developer is exploring
possibility
of
expanding
Crossroads Plaza.
the
the
Hillcrest Shopping Center is doing
some moving of stores and is actively
negotiating for a portion if not all of
the former Ames Store. We are still
searching for potential non-retail uses
for the back portion of Ames. If you
have any ideas or leads, please feel
free to call me. Examples of potential
uses are for offices, schools, meeting
centers, etc.
While we were saddened to see the
departure of Burrell Rental and Jacobs
Wholesale Trophy Shop, there have
also been positive developments.
Lucie’s Alterations broke ground for a
new building.
Widewater Corporation, the owner of
the Wards/Penney’s Shopping Center,
is actively negotiating with potential
clients. No firm contracts have been
signed at this time. Yes, Penney’s is
leaving in early July to open their new
store in Pittsburgh Mills.
The
negotiations have been all on the basis
of Penney’s move. We will miss them,
but the negotiations include potential
replacements.
We have applied for a $220,000 grant
called “Business on Our Sites”. This
is a new competitive grant program
applied to reclaiming old mine sites,
industrial sites, etc. The purpose is for
planning and some site development.
The grants, if received, will be applied
to the development of a shopping
center at the new Parnassus
Crossroads on the site of the former
Gateway Drive-In theater. If this
City
News
The Hello Shop moved and expanded.
Several new businesses also opened:
 Medi Home Hospice
3162 Kipp Ave.
 Dr. James Katsur & Associates
Hillcrest Plaza
 Kensington Financial is now
at 2664 Leechburg Rd.
 Modern Nails is now
at 2505 Leechburg Rd.
And finally, Rascal’s has changed
ownership. Stop by, have fun and say
hello to the new owners.
As always remember these businesses
depend on your patronage to be
successful.
“Shop Lower Burrell First”
Happy 10th Anniversary Bruster’s
Bruster’s will be celebrating their 10th
Anniversary. Come join us for tons of
fun and entertainment on May 20, 21
and 22, 2005.
Fun & Entertainment all weekend
long.
Comprehensive Plan
The
Comprehensive
Planning
Committee working very closely with
the New Kensington Campus of
Pennsylvania State University has now
completed the writing of the
Comprehensive Plan. The vision for
the City is “A Visually Appealing
Community of Safe Neighborhoods
with a variety of educational,
recreation and cultural opportunities
with ready access to services, retail
and jobs”. This vision is then broken
into distinct parts on land use,
transportation, education.
Action
plans are then listed for each of these
areas.
We are currently in what is called the
verification stage, translated – did we
get your wishes right? Once this phase
is completed and the plan adopted by
Council, the implementation stage will
begin. The plan will be available at
City Hall for anyone who wishes to
City News
read it. Also, if any community
groups would like a presentation about
the plan, please contact City Hall.
Water Authority Sale
As you know from the media the City
officials of New Kensington have
backed away from the sale of the
“Water Authority” to any entity
outside of the City. The media further
reported that the same officials are
considering an offer discussed earlier
by the Water Authority. This offer
would be to make an annual payment
of $500,000 to the City of New
Kensington. Lower Burrell and the
surrounding communities also oppose
this proposition for the same reasons
the sale was opposed. The rate payers
would see higher water rates with the
proposition. The rate increases would
go to the City of New Kensington for
the uses they stated – reducing tax
rates for New Kensington residents,
economic
development
and
beautification for New Kensington.
While we believe these are noble goals
they should not be borne on the backs
of “rate payers” for water. The Water
Authority was never intended from all
the research I have done, to offset the
financial issues of the City of New
Kensington through water rates.
I have discussed our position with
some officials of New Kensington and
the Water Authority along with
testifying at a public meeting. I
believe our position is clearly
understood and being evaluated. The
surrounding communities of rate
payers are united in their opposition.
We hope this never comes to a stage
requiring litigation, but will take
whatever steps are deemed necessary
to protect you, the rate payer.
Smoke and Dye Testing
Some of you have received first round
or second round letters suggesting that
you may have areas where storm and
sewer systems are interconnected. The
first round responses have been
disappointing. About 25% of the
residents notified have responded to
have testing done at no cost to them to
determine if there is a violation and
the required corrections.
Please
understand that our intent is to work
closely
with
those
requiring
corrections to minimize any financial
burden. The City of Lower Burrell is
required,
as
well
as
other
municipalities, to bring all systems
into compliance by order of the
Department
of
Environmental
Protection. Failure to do so can
potentially result in financial penalties.
In addition we need to remove as
much storm water from the sanitary
system to keep from overloading the
system. Overloads result in backups
into home – a situation none of us
want to see.
Therefore, once again, we are asking
for your cooperation and assistance to
solve this problem. The City has no
desire to exercise legal means to solve
the problem, but understand that
compliance must be obtained,
whatever it takes.
Transportation
The recent transportation bill TEA-LU
passed by the House did not contain an
appropriation for the $5 million
necessary to continue work on a new
bridge and connector from the AK
Valley to the Rt. 28 Expressway.
Congressional representatives have
pointed out that this was due to the
adamant refusal by State and
PennDOT officials to proceed with the
work even if it was funded. This is a
significant setback for the Valley.
The AK Coalition has now redoubled
its efforts to overturn this decision.
Meetings are being held with officials
of several counties to have the bridge
added
to
the
Southwestern
Pennsylvania
Commission
Transportation Improvement Plan.
This bridge and total surrounding road
infrastructure is critical to our overall
success as a region. Please contact
Governor Rendell and all other State
and Congressional officials to express
your disappointment and concern.
Flood Recovery
Work is still progressing to recover
from the June, September and January
floods.
Flow control valves are
presently being installed in a number
of homes in the Kinloch area. Many
thanks go out to Catholic Charities
who paid for the materials and
installation. Some dredging work has
been completed to stabilize the creek
along Miller’s Lane.
Some have
received all or part of their funding
from
the
Federal
Emergency
Management Agency. The Salvation
Army has arranged for hot water
heaters and Catholic Charities have
financed furnaces for those in need.
Alcoa has provided work crews and
money. If you know of people who
are distressed and need help, please
call my office to see if we can locate
anyone to help, 724-335-9875, ext.
225.
Strawberry Festival
Burrell Area Rotary will be holding a
Strawberry Festival on June 17th to
raise funds for community projects.
They have done a number of things
already for Wolf Pack Park. Please
participate. More details to come.
A Message from
Councilman Trozzi
Hello again and thank you for taking a
few minutes to read about some of the
things going on with the City Parks.
The City is extremely lucky and proud
of the many grants and projects that
are in process. The effort is enormous
and I’d like to publicly acknowledge
everyone involved. Although it may
seem like it’s taking some time to
implement these projects we have been
hard at work on them for a number of
months, and years in some cases.
Please understand that for some of us
administering and implementing state
and federal grants and dealing with
detailed bid packages and all the
City News
associated work and time involved,
especially the quantity of projects that
are
currently
in
process,
is
challenging. Some of us are not
experts, and so these things take time
because all of the requirements that we
deal with are very detailed and specific
and are not typically part of our
normal
day-to-day
tasks.
We
absolutely need to make sure we
execute and adhere to all local, state,
federal, and grant codes and
guidelines. The process takes time and
sometimes requires input from many
individuals both inside and outside the
City, including the City Solicitor. So
please be patient with us and know
that everyone involved is doing their
best to get these projects completed in
a timely manner.
We have approximately $800,000
worth of active projects associated
with the City Parks and I’d like to
summarize the major activities. If
anyone has any questions or wants
additional detail, or wants to donate
their services, please give me a call
and I would be most happy to discuss.
City of Lower Burrell Park Activities /
Projects:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Wolf Pack Master Plan (DCNR)
Bid Package I – Soccer Fields
(Tri City Soccer made a
substantial financial contribution
beyond the grant) , Adult Softball
/ Baseball, Tot Lot
Wolf Pack Master Plan (DCNR)
Bid Package II – Little League
Fields (Lower Burrell Little
League made a substantial
financial contribution beyond the
grant) , and Basketball Court
Rotary Club Fund Raiser – Wolf
Pack Deck Hockey Rink
Materials Donation – Wolf Pack
Concession Stand Rebuild
John Murtha Grant - Wolf Pack
Water Line Extension
John Murtha Grant – Wolf Pack
Bridge Construction
John Murtha Grant – Wolf Pack
Park Electrical Upgrade
John Murtha Grant – Wolf Pack
Pavilion
PA Conservation Corp. Labor /
Materials Grant – Various Park
Projects
10. Community Development Block
Grant - Wolf Pack Park Physically
Challenged
Walking
Trail
Upgrade
11. Burrellton Garden Club – Wolf
Pack Park Flag Pole Donation
don’t have permission, you can be
cited for trespassing. Additionally,
ATV’s cannot be ridden on any roads
in the City of Lower Burrell.
These are the major projects going on
within the City Parks, and do not
include day-to-day activities and
ongoing Park maintenance. This list is
certainly substantial enough to keep us
all busy for a long time. Thank you for
your time. As always, give a call if you
have any questions or suggestions.
Another law the State has enacted
regarding the operation of ATV’s is
Section 7730, Liability Insurance.
This section requires that you carry
liability insurance coverage for any
ATV’s that are required to be
registered. Additionally Section 7729,
the State has a law that places all
liability for negligence on the owner of
the ATV. What this means is that the
owner is held responsible for the death
or injury of any person or the damage
to any property, resulting from the
negligent use or operation of any ATV
by any person when this person is
operating the vehicle with the consent
of the owner.
9.
A Message from
Lower Burrell Police Department
ATV’s
The Lower Burrell Police Department
has been receiving a number of
complaints regarding the operation of
quad runners (all-terrain vehicles) in
the City. Because of this I thought it
may be fitting to pass on some
information to those people who ride
ATV’s and the parents of children who
operate ATV’s. Title 75, the Vehicles
Law of Pennsylvania, provide for
many laws that govern the operation of
ATV’s. One such law that we see
numerous infractions of is Section
7724, Operation on Private or State
Property. This section states that “No
person shall operate a snowmobile or
an ATV on private property without
the consent of the owner thereof. Any
person operating a snowmobile or an
ATV upon lands of another shall stop
and identify himself upon the request
of the "landowner” Also the operator
of the ATV must promptly remove the
vehicle if requested by the landowner.
Ultimately, what this section is stating
is that if you want to ride an ATV in
the City you must have the permission
of the person who owns the property
on which you will be riding. If you
The bottom line is there are very few
places they can be ridden in the City,
unless you have permission of a
landowner, you are limited to riding
them in your yard.
If you would like more information on
this subject, contact the Lower Burrell
Police Department at (724) 339-4287.
Safeguarding Your Mobile Phone
As many as 10,000 mobile phones are
stolen every month. Two thirds of the
victims are aged between 13 and 16.
Many phones are also stolen from
unattended cars.
Here are some
practical measures you can take to
keep your mobile phone safe.
Remember to....
·
·
·
Keep your phone out of sight in
your pocket or handbag when not
in use.
Use your phone’s security lock
code, if it has one.
Record details of your electronic
serial number (ESN) and consider
separate insurance.
Don’t...
City News
·
·
·
·
Attract attention to your phone
when you are carrying or using it
in the street.
Park in an isolated or dark area.
Leave your phone in an
unattended car – if you must, lock
it out of sight. It only takes
seconds for a thief to smash a
window and steal your phone.
If you see anything suspicious,
call the police – Dial 911.
If you have information about stolen
mobile phones or any other crimes,
please call Lower Burrell at 724339-4287.
From the Treaurer's Office
Per capita taxes for 2004 are due by 5
p.m. on June 1; post marks are not
accepted. Delinquent per capita taxes
will be sent for collection on June 2.
If you have misplaced your bill or
need to check if it has been paid,
phone the Treasurer's Office at 724337-4381.
City, County and School Taxes can be
paid by credit card by phoning 1-800272-9829,
or
on-line
at
www.officialpayments.com.
Our
jurisdiction code is 4811.
This
information can also be found on the
tax bills.
Public Works
By Councilwoman Irene Karrs
Street Department
At this time of the year the Street
Department starts to gear up for the
coming construction season. We
received not one but two devastating
storms that require repairs that have
not been completed yet. After the
September 17th storm, we applied for
funding from FEMA to make the
repairs and the monies are just being
received. We hope to continue the
repairs in the next few weeks as money
and materials become available. The
repairs that remain are the road edges
on Guyer Rd, Kunkle Rd, Watters Rd,
Delberta Rd, Wills Ave, and the
stream bank stabilization on Millers
Lane.
We will also rebuild the
retaining wall on Phillips Dr. Of
course we also have the jobs that were
left from last year that were delayed
due to the storms and our normal
yearly maintenance. This will be an
ambitious year, but if the weather
cooperates, I am sure that that Street
Department will come through.
This year we are purchasing a new
piece of equipment that will increase
the production rate of the asphalt base
repairs. The Asphalt Zipper is a
miniature milling machine that will
speed our demolition process. We are
purchasing this machine jointly with
Allegheny Twp in an effort to continue
our cost savings program.
The
millings that are created will be reused
in trench backfills and other road
repairs replacing stone that normally
would have to be purchased.
Every year at this time, potholes begin
to develop and our pothole patrol will
be making their rounds. We try to
search for them, but even with our best
effort we can not always find them. If
you have a “favorite pothole” that has
missed our attention, please call our
office at 724-334-0690 between the
hours of 7:00AM and 3:30PM and we
will make it disappear. Please be
aware that several streets within the
City are owned and maintained by
PennDOT. We will forward your
request to the local PennDOT office.
This year we will be bidding for major
repair work on Braddock Dr, Vance
Dr, Washington St, and Schreiber St.
The base repairs will be performed by
our own workers and the new drainage
and road overlays will be performed
by contractors.
As always we ask that you be careful
when driving through the construction
sites. We are always concerned about
not only our workers welfare but your
own safety. Please obey work zone
signs and the flagmen.
Summer Employment Applications
Applications are now being taken for
the Street Department Summer helpers
for 2005.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of
age, currently attending college or will
be attending in the Fall.
Work
normally begins in May and lasts for
15 weeks. The wage is $6.00 per hour
and the hours for most of the summer
will be 6:00am to 2:30am.
Previous employees must complete a
new application each year and will
only work for a total of four years. To
apply, pick up an application, from our
receptionist on the main floor of City
Hall between the hours of 9:00 AM
and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Traffic Light Problems:
We are asking all city residents to
contact our Street Department to
report any traffic lights that are not
working. You can call us Monday
through Friday from 7:00 AM until
3:30 PM at 724/889-2007.
Street Light Problems:
If you notice that a streetlight is either
burned out or on all the time, we are
asking that you report it to the City.
For us to report the problem please
reply with the closest street address to
the pole. Call Monday through Friday
from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM to 724335-9875 Extension 208.
Sewer Department
The Sewer Department has also had its
own run of bad luck during last years
storms. Many of the required repairs
have been completed but some of the
temporary repairs will need a more
permanent solution. These also will
be funded by FEMA and will be
placed out for public bid. Great
City News
thanks go out to the Sewer Department
for their outstanding work during these
trying times.
The storm related repairs have also
delayed the smoke and dye program
that we started last year to identify
structures that have direct storm water
connections
(downspouts
and
driveway drains) to their sanitary
sewer lines which are in violation of
City ordinances. These connections
are overloading the sanitary lines
during heavy rain storms causing
manholes to overflow in the lower
areas of the City and then flowing
directly into the streams which run to
the river. Unfortunately they also
cause backups into basements of many
homes during the more severe rains.
Many residents will be receiving a
letter soon stating that we will be
testing your area by forcing smoke
through the system to identify many
leaks and connections. Prior to the
beginning of the smoke testing, every
home that will be affected will receive
notice explaining when and where the
testing will be performed. This notice
will advise you to place at least one
gallon of water in every drain of your
home to insure that the P-Trap is full
of water. Floor drains are especially
susceptible since they are seldom used
and have a tendency to dry out. If
your home has had its plumbing
properly installed there is no chance
that smoke will enter your home. The
only sign of smoke that you should see
is what comes out of your roof vent.
The type of smoke that will be used is
nontoxic and is manufactured for this
use. This testing will only last for
about three to four minutes in each
area.
Wearing a poppy came to mean
Honor the dead and help the living.
The poppy, which grew wild on the
battlefields of Flanders, became, in the
minds of the doughboys of World War
I, a symbol of the sacrifice, which they
had endured. But the Poppy is more
than a symbol – it is a source of hope
and aid to many in our nation.
These flowers, made by the disabled
servicemen, raise funds for relief work
among handicapped veterans. Poppy
contributions are devoted entirely to
assistance for Veternas and their
families.
The Amercian Legion Auxiliary Unit
868 will be out May 28th & 29th in the
area distributing poppies. Please be
generous when you see them.
Memorial Day Services May 30th
8:45 a.m. – VFW Post 92 Ceremony
9:30 a.m. – Greenwood Memorial
Cemetery Service
11:00 a.m. – Memorial Day Parade
Sponsored by the American Legion
Post 868
Noon – Memorial Service at the
American Legion Post 868
Bike Parade & Rodeo
A bike parade and rodeo is planned for
all children in the Lower Burrell
Community on June 5, 2005 at 2:00
p.m. Children that cannot ride a bike
are welcomed with their parents
pulling them in a wagon or assisting
them.
Everyone is asked to decorate their
bike and themselves for this event. It
will begin at Pamela’s Garden on
Alder Street and parade throughout the
neighborhood and back for a rodeo,
bike safety inspections and food. All
people interested in participating are
to register ahead of time by calling
Pam at Pamela’s Garden, 724-3393113. Please register by May 27th.
Come join us for the fun!!
Burrell Youth Commission
Needs Volunteers
Volunteers are welcome to serve on
the Burrell Youth Commission, an
alternative program to juvenile court
proceedings. One of 19 commissions
in Westmoreland County, the Burrell
Youth Commission, serving both
Upper Burrell and Lower Burrell,
meets monthly to hear cases referred
by District Magistrates, Burrell
Schools
and/or
the
police.
Commission membership requirements
include residence in Lower/Upper
Burrell, possessing good character and
no record of criminal history.
Additional information can be
obtained by contacting Officer Richard
Ogurchock, Lower Burrell Police
(724) 339-4287 or Frank Baker (724)
335-2635,
e-mail:
fmbaker1@comcast.net.
A Message from Public Safety
Councilman Richard W. Lippert
Senate Resolution 60 Special
Bipartisan Legislative Commission
Submits Formal Report
State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann has
announced
that
a
bipartisan
commission, created for the purpose of
devising strategies to improve the
delivery of emergency services across
the Commonwealth, has completed its
required formal report and submitted it
to the House and Senate.
"For the past 25 years, study after
study identified the problems and
challenges we all face," Mann said. "In
most cases, they were obvious, such as
volunteer recruiting and retention.
Now, for the first time, we are
focusing our collective energies on
finding solutions to these problems."
The 25-member commission was
created through Senate Resolution 60,
which was passed by the General
Assembly in 2003. After a series of
meetings, the commission drafted its
formal report containing suggested
legislative
actions
to
improve
emergency services delivery statewide.
Some
of
these
legislative
City News
This year’s free event will be held on
Saturday, June 11, 2005
8am – 9am: Registration & Fishing
Demonstrations
9am – 11:30am: Fishing Derby
12 noon: Presentation of prizes
recommendations are:
·
changing statutory language to
define emergency services more
clearly
·
adopting legislation to reform the
delivery of emergency services
·
reforming current
services laws
·
offiering tax credits to current
emergency services personnel and
employers of volunteer emergency
service workers
·
emergency
establishing grant programs that
would encourage emergency
services volunteerism
The Commission includes fire and
emergency medical service leaders,
local government representatives, key
state agency staff, and members of the
General Assembly.
According to Mann, SR 60 represents
the first time all involved partners,
namely
first
responders,
local
government officials, and members of
the Legislature, were at the table
working together toward an acceptable
resolution to the problems facing
community public safety programs.
"We are at a critical turning point and
we are moving forward," Mann added.
"The future of Pennsylvania's fire and
emergency medical services depends
on what we accomplish as a result of
the report."
Braeview Volunteer Fire
Company, City of Lower Burrell
Company #4, is hosting a
Fundraising Golf Scramble
Oak Lake Golf Course
May 14, 2005 at 9:00 am
To participate or become a sponsor
contact BVFC at 724-224-8085 or
braeview@relymail.com
For a donation of $65 per golfer you
will enjoy 18 holes with a cart, a hot
dog and pop at the turn, a luncheon,
beer and soda. Prizes will be awarded
to the top three finishing teams, for
longest drive, closest to the pin and
more! Come have fun while
supporting
your
community.
Remember, your donations are
completely tax deductible.
Outing Coordinators: Doug Montanari
724-337-9161 and Betsy Fennell 724334-0131
Burrell Lake Park
Kids Fishing Derby
Sponsored by Tri-County Trout Club
and Lower Burrell Parks and
Recreation Committee
City of Lower Burrell
2800 Bethel St.
Lower Burrell, PA 15068-3227
Phone: (724) 335-9875
Fax: (724) 335-9881
All kids ages 15 and younger are
welcome to participate. Registration is
free.
Every child registered will
receive a prize! A FREE lunch is
available for each child from 11am –
12 noon. Catch & Release only.
Great Prizes for the biggest fish caught
in each category! Fishing helpers will
be available to assist the children and
measure fish.
For further information please call
724-335-2679
How did they know?
Did you ever wonder how someone
was privy to events occurring in the
city
prior
to
any
public
announcement? The answer is simple.
They subscribe to the city’s electronic
distribution of the newsletter. Join in
and be better informed by receiving
the newsletter before it goes to print.
To
enroll,
respond
to
newsletter@cityoflowerburrell.com
Type newsletter in the subject line and
provide your name, address and e-mail
address.
All information is
confidential and our site is spam free.
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