Meeting roundup
Date: July 21
Action: At the request of the Washington County Airport, the commissioners agreed to advance $600,000 to the Washington County Redevelopment Authority to purchase the hangar and offices from Air Charter Service and Business Aviation Center. The commissioners approved the $1.765 million purchase last month. The $600,000 will be repaid once the county receives a Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation grant.
At the request of the sheriff’s office, which provides security at the Washington County Courthouse, the board approved the emergency purchase of two multizone walk-through metal detection systems and X-ray scanner tunnels at an estimated cost of $55,475. The equipment at the South Main Street entrance of the courthouse has been out of commission for the past few months.
The board granted a 20-inch easement to Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Inc. following the route of a pipeline across land leased to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum with entrance and exit rights. In another natural gas-related matter, the board amended the county’s 2012 lease with Range Resources regarding land beneath the Panhandle Trail, adding .748 of an acre in Chartiers Township, bringing the total area under lease to 359.2 acres.
Anticipating a large turnout in the presidential election Nov. 8, the county agreed to lease 40 electronic poll books at a cost of $27,120. The electronic books list names and addresses of registered voters. The county chose to lease the equipment rather than purchase it because the highest voter turnout generally occurs only in presidential election years.
At the request of Coroner Timothy Warco, the board ratified handgun safety and handling training for deputy coroners Timothy Warco II and Timothy Hilgartner at a cost of $115 per person.
At the request of Treasurer Francis King, the board approved a $20 temporary line of petty cash needed to supplement antlerless license fees collected for the state due to a recent 20-cent increase. The Game Commission has asked the county to supplement the fees paid by check and not hold up the issuance of the licenses and the Game Commission has promised to reimburse the county. The total fee for Pennsylvania residents will be $6.90 per license, and $26.90 for non-residents.
At the request of the planning commission, the board approved the 2016-18 Unified Planning Work Program agreement with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. Planning funds of $17,784 require a county match of $4,446 annually.
Intermediate Unit I will provide educational services to participants in the Leadership Enhanced Attitude Development Educational Rehabilitation program through June 30 at a cost not to exceed $18,240.
At the request of the human services department, the commissioners will accept a $1.3 million agreement of federal taxpayers’ money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing and supportive services to homeless individuals and families through Dec. 31, 2017. Domestic Violence Services, Residential Recovery Services and Connect, Inc., will receive $1,180,073 through Nov. 30, 2107.
At the request of Children and Youth Services, the board approved a $50-per-hour agreements with attorneys Zachary Mesher and B. Tennille Newsome-Boyles to provide legal services to children involved with the agency through June 30.
At the request of court administration, the board approved the renewal of a contract with the Center for Hearing and Deaf Services Inc., Greensburg, to interpret court proceedings through June 30 at an hourly rate of $60 for interpreters registered with the state and $50 for those who are not registered.
At the request of the recorder of deeds office, the board will lease an additional 300 square feet at the Washington-Greene County Job Training Agency Inc. at the Chapman Building, 351 West Beau St., Washington, during property assessment appeals through Oct. 31.
At the request of aging services, the county will lease the Claysville Senior Center at a rate of $200 per month through November and then $1 per month through June 30, 2031. Also at the request of the same department, the commissioners agreed to rent two storage unit for the Bentleyville Aging Center at a cost of $180 per month through Aug. 31, 2017, with an option to extend month-to-month during renovations.
At the request of the Washington County Redevelopment Authority, the board approved an intergovernmental cooperation agreement among the Washington County Land Bank, the county, Charleroi Borough and Charleroi School District.
Reappointments: Sharon Russell, transportation authority board through May 31, 2021; Gerald Gavazzi, John Drake, Ed Snarey, Michael Klauer, Thomas Moore, Roy Wise, Herb Hermann, Harry Thompson, Herman Bigi, Charles Rose, William Puchi, Nick Antonelli, Fred Owens, the Rev. Frederick Pfeil, Thomas Shade, James Crouch, David White, George Eckert Jr., George Hutchko, Anthony Pasquerilla, Phillip Fiumara and Richard Warco, Veterans Advisory Council, effective Jan. 1.
Next meeting: 10 a.m. Aug. 18 in the public meeting room of the Courthouse Square office building. The board conducts only one business meeting in August.
Date: July 26
Action: Supervisors tabled action on a conditional use application by W&W Realty Enterprises, Washington Ford, for an automobile storage lot on Munce Ridge Road, located in a commercial C-2 zone. The business plans to develop two to two-and-a-half acres of a four-acre parcel it owns. The dealership applied for conditional use because a private lot intended for car storage is not addressed in the township’s zoning code.
The planning commission recommended approval at its July 7 meeting, but supervisors were concerned with the impact the lot would have on surrounding property owners on Kingswood Court, including lighting, noise and traffic. The township has 45 days from the June 23 application date to make a decision.
Supervisors agreed to participate in the Floral Hill Drive sanitary sewer project. Eric Tissue of KLH Engineers said the project includes the public works building at 680 Floral Hill Drive and Community Park, which currently use holding tanks. The project is estimated to cost around $30,000 plus a monthly sewage treatment fee. Members of South Strabane Sanitary Authority said a bid for work will be put out in August.
Members of the township’s parks and recreation council were directed to scale back plans for an Aug. 27 event.
The annual Community Day was canceled in May after supervisors voted to change the venue from Community Park to Billy Bell Park. Parks and recreation Chairwoman Penny Steggles said the council would host a “Night at Community Park” instead, with a band, DJ, movie and other activities, but Supervisor Tom Moore said that events must first be approved by the board. The committee was directed to show a movie and cancel other entertainment.
Supervisors are seeking township residents to serve on a comprehensive plan committee. The current comprehensive plan was implemented in 1995. Residents were directed to send letters of interest to the municipal building, in care of Manager John Stickle.
The board authorized Police Chief Donald Zofchak to begin the process of hiring a part-time officer. Zofchak has reported that offenses and arrests continue to increase. South Strabane’s police department patrols more than 23 square miles, including parts of routes 19 and 40, and retail locations including Trinity Point, Strabane Square and Tanger Outlets.
Next meeting: 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at the municipal building.