Apr 24, 2013 3 min read

The South Strabane Board of Supervisors approved spending more than $5,000 on signs that will greet visitors to the new police building currently being constructed near Smith Road. A motion to accept designs from Advance Sign for a number of fixtures for the building were approved at Monday’s meeting.

The words “South Strabane Police Department” will appear on both sides of a red brick monument sign along the driveway leading up to the building. The words will be spelled out in six-inch aluminum cast letters. The cost of the lettering was $1,526.

A 48-by-33-inch cast aluminum emblem in the shape of the township police badge was approved for the building’s entrance, and a dedication plaque was approved for the inside of the station. The badge will cost $3,228 and the dedication plaque $906.

The total cost of the signs will be $5,660.

Supervisor Dan Piatt cast the lone “no” vote. Jack Keisling, Ed Mazur and Chairman Tom Moore voted in favor of the motion. Robert Koman was not present.

Piatt voiced opposition to the cost of the dedication plaque and requested that his name not be included on it.

“I still don’t think a dedication plaque is necessary,” Piatt said. “That’s $1,000 you don’t spend.”

Supervisors also voted to enter into an agreement with West Penn Power to install a new utility pole near Smith Drive to bring electricity to the station.

Mazur made a motion to strike down a proposal to include light fixtures for the flagpole that eventually will stand near the police building’s entrance. Federal law mandates that the American flag must be lighted if it is flown after sunset. Estimates for the lighting structures were roughly $3,000.

“Let them put it up and down like you’re supposed to,” Mazur said. “If it’s not up there, you don’t need a light.”

The motion passed by a vote of 4-0, but Moore had his doubts.

“I’d say good luck in getting a police officer to get it up and down,” Moore said.

A motion by Mazur to hire a cost-control consultant for the public works building was voted down, with Mazur offering the lone “yes” vote. Mazur said spending $8,800 on the consultant could ultimately save the township money by helping to avert problems in the construction of the building on Floral Hill Drive.

“It’s like buying insurance to make sure things don’t get out of hand down the road,” Mazur said.

Board members approved a motion to authorize the donation of $2,000 in matching funds to Washington City Transit for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

A motion was approved to donate $100 to purchase a tee box advertisement for the annual Nathaniel Burnfield benefit golf tournament at Indian Run Golf Club near Avella June 8. Proceeds of the tournament support a scholarship fund in the name of Burnfield, a township police officer who was killed in a 2008 accident on Interstate 70.