South Strabane promotes 2 officers to full time
At the first regular board meeting of the year, South Strabane Township supervisors came through on a promise to police Chief Donald Zofchak to fortify the department.
By unanimous vote, supervisors on Tuesday approved the promotions of two part-time officers, Keith Zenkovich and Jaimie Quintero, to full-time status.
“I’m glad (supervisors) chose to move them up,” Zofchak said. “I’ve got two good young men that I’m sure will help us immensely.”
Zofchak asked the board in March to consider hiring more patrol officers, based on the department’s 2015 report. Officers responded to 4,135 complaints, which was 525 more than in 2014, and reported almost 600 thefts, up from 450 the previous year.
The township covers more than 23 square miles, including heavily used routes 40 and 19. Retail locations Tanger Outlets, Strabane Square and Trinity Point continue to be the source of the need for increased law enforcement.
“The retail area obviously continues to become more and more of an issue with the growth. The heroin epidemic isn’t helping, either. It adds to the theft situation,” Zofchak said. “What I was really lacking, and what the department was lacking, was stealing time from patrol and traffic enforcement to deal with those on-demand calls.”
The 2017 budget, which includes a 10 percent increase in real estate taxes, was adopted Dec. 20 with the promotions in mind. The increase will generate about $87,000, which will cover the cost associated with promoting the officers.
In other business, supervisors tabled an eminent domain acquisition of the Colussi family property, 570 Washington Road, which abuts the township building. A sale of the 4.58 acres land is pending with W&W Realty (Washington Ford) for use as a vehicle storage lot.
The board on Nov. 21 directed solicitor Dennis Makel to investigate obtaining the property.
The dealership, which owns property on the other side of the municipal building, has obtained approval for two uses on the Colussi property, which is zoned commercial, C-2.
The dealership’s original application for a storage lot was denied by supervisors Aug. 23 because the township’s ordinance did not allow for vehicle storage lots. W&W then came back to the supervisors and secured conditional-use approval for a sales lot Oct. 25.
On Nov. 2, the business received a special exception from the zoning hearing board for a vehicle storage lot on the property. The township planning commission voted to recommend final land development approval for a storage facility.
Some residents have complained about the development near their homes and believe the plot would better serve the community as a park or to expand the township building.
Attorney Thomas Lonich, a former township solicitor who now represents W&W, told the board Tuesday his client is opposed to any township action to attempt to take the property.
“(W&W) wishes to move forward with lawful development,” he said.
Supervisors also took action to reapply to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for grant funding for the next phase of work at Community Park, which would include construction of bathrooms, a kitchenette and a walking trail. A 2016 application was denied. Township manager Brandon Stanick was directed to investigate the reasons for the denial before resubmission.
The next public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. January 24.