Tom Yerace stories, Page 5
Burrell’s Huston Middle School isn’t getting air conditioning after bids came in too high
Students at Burrell School District’s Huston Middle School won’t be learning in air-conditioned classrooms any time soon. The school board Tuesday rejected bids to install air conditioning at the school. That’s because bids for the work, which was projected to cost about $1.2 million, came in at around $1.6 million....
Freeport Area School District cuts deficit by more than half, thanks to state budget passage
The school subsidies included in the recently passed state budget reduces Freeport Area School District’s operating deficit by more than half. District Business Manager Brad Walker told the school board Wednesday the district will receive state allocations of $7.91 million for general education aid and $1.32 million for special education....
Harmar rejects bids for Highland Woods pump station project
Facing double the expected costs for the Highland Woods pump station project, the Harmar supervisors are searching for another way forward. The supervisors Thursday rejected the bids received from two contracting firms to do the work. That work includes replacing more than 2,000 feet of sewer lines and rebuilding the...
Washington Township’s top cop to retire; new chief named
The Washington Township supervisors have set the structure for a change in the police department’s leadership. Chief Scott Slagle is retiring after serving as chief for 27 years and working in the department for 33. His departure is not a surprise, though. He filed for the Deferred Retirement Option Program,...
Allegheny Township officials finds out how much its sewage system is worth: Not enough to interest the county
Allegheny Township supervisors wondered how much the township sewer system would be worth to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. The answer, at least in their eyes, turned out to be not enough. At their July meeting, the supervisors voted unanimously to inform the county authority that any interest they...
Planning commission OKs student housing development in downtown New Kensington
A proposed downtown New Kensington student housing development took a first step toward reality by gaining approval from the city’s planning commission. The commission voted, 4-0, Tuesday to approve a plan put forth by Jake Lydick, a downtown businessman. The plan would convert three vacant Fifth Avenue properties — 713,...
Allegheny Township officials ponder next steps regarding manager’s replacement
Allegheny Township supervisors voted to accept Manager Greg Primm’s resignation Monday amid praise for him and a question about the need for the position. Primm, who has been the township manager since 2009, submitted his resignation last week. On the very night the township supervisors accepted his resignation, he was...
Springdale considers zoning tactic ‘to encourage new things over what is already there,’ with eye on former power plant site
Springdale Council is moving to create a “mixed-use overlay” in its zoning ordinance that will not change current zoning districts. However, the proposed overlay could allow for uses not specified in the current districts — including the 54-acre site of the defunct Duquesne Light power generating station, according to Carolyn...
Building renovations drive Kiski Area tax increase
Kiski Area School District residents will pay more in real estate taxes for the 2023-24 school year. The board voted 8-0 to raise taxes by 5.37 mills, a 5.7% increase, for the district’s Westmoreland County communities and 2.19 mills, a 5.1% increase, for Parks Township, the district’s only Armstrong County...
Harmar elevates part-time officer, bringing police force to 9 full-timers
Harmar supervisors expanded the township’s police department to nine full-time officers by elevating part-time Officer Erik Brannock to full-time status. Township officials said Brannock has been employed by the township as a part-timer for about seven months. Brannock will earn the starting salary of $57,676. Supervisor Bob Exler said Brannock’s...
Property taxes in the Freeport Area School District set to increase by about 3%
Taxpayers in the Freeport Area School District will be paying about 3% more in taxes in the upcoming school year. The school board voted Wednesday to increase taxes for district residents living in the Armstrong County communities of Freeport and South Buffalo by 3% and for residents of Buffalo Township,...
Brackenridge to seek separate bids for playground resurfacing, tree removal after combined bid was too high
A bid of more than $200,000 to do the Brackenridge playground project has jolted Brackenridge Council. The bid, from Done Right Construction, was the only one the borough received. It’s more than double the $95,000 in Allegheny County grant money the borough has to spend on the project. Borough Engineer...
Allegheny Valley School District teacher selected for free trip to Disneyland
A teacher in the Allegheny Valley School District has earned herself a free trip to Disneyland this week. McCall Emerick, an elementary school science teacher, has been named as one of the 100 exceptional teachers from around the country who will participate in the Disney 100 Teacher Celebration at Disneyland...
Allegheny Township supervisors approve liquor license transfer to convenience store near Kiski Area High School
The Allegheny Township supervisors approved a liquor license for a convenience store near Kiski Area High School. The license headed for the Buy N Fly gas station/convenience store at 315 Hyde Park Road is being purchased from Monike Inc. of Delmont. Anna K Holdings filed the transfer application for Buy...
