Sewickley council approved a contract with Wampum-based Youngblood to pave four streets with the potential to do other work as well.

The nearly $462,000 agreement was made via 8-0 vote at the May 9 council meeting.

Councilman Todd Hamer was absent.

Engineer Mike Galet said Youngblood was the lowest of two bidders. The company paved streets in the borough years ago.

“Our experience with them in the past has been quite good,” council President Cynthia Mullins said shortly before the vote.

The borough budgeted $600,000 for paving this year.

Galet said he will meet with the company within the next few weeks to discuss possible inlet and curb repairs that were considered last year but never done, as additional work to be covered by the estimated $138,000 surplus.

“We haven’t finalized that yet,” Galet said. “The next month is going to be (administration) working through the contract. They could start (on paving) as early as mid-June. We’ll know a little bit better (about start and end times) once we get our pre-construction meeting.”

The project is expected to take four to six weeks depending on scheduling.

Roads to be repaired this year include:

• Grant Street from Bank to Linden streets.

• Linden Place from Academy Avenue to Grant Street.

• Centennial Avenue from Grove Street to Blackburn Road.

• Thorn Street from Logan to Peebles streets.

Road evaluations began near the end of February and ran into early March.

Galet said he used a pavement condition index that measures streets on a scale of 0-100, with 100 being the best, to help prioritize projects.

The aforementioned roads were the worst of the bunch.

Straight, Fountain and Hill streets, as well as Academy Avenue, were taken off the list due to their involvement in future sewer projects.

Orchard Terrace, Hopkins Street and Church Way were also removed due to their conditions and may be on next year’s list.

No brick roads are being considered this year because of high repair costs.

In other news

Mayor George Shannon proclaimed May 9 to be Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Day in recognition of the borough’s commitment to preserving the monarch butterfly.

“The borough of Sewickley has committed to engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants, host Earth Day, educate residents and provide milkweed seeds for the propagation effort,” the mayor said.

Residents can make a difference for monarchs with those plants “to provide habitat for the monarch and pollinators in locations where people live, work, learn, play and worship.”

Shannon signed the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayor’s Monarch Pledge on March 16.

Council approved a $23,404 project with Exact Electrical Solution LLC to replace the exterior and interior lights of the borough building with LEDs.

Borough manager Donna Kaib said the borough is expected to pay $5,606 with the remaining $17,798 covered by the Duquesne Light Small Business Direct Install Program.

The project may be done in late May or early June.

Kaib said the borough is expected to recoup its contribution in energy savings within 10 months.

Council formally scheduled Sewickley’s 2023 Light Up Night for Dec. 1. Council vice president Julie Barnes said her committee is in the beginning stages of planning the event.

Sewickley Chamber of Commerce’s Night Marts were scheduled for June 30, July 28 and Aug. 25. More information about those events is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

A 150-foot section of the lower end of Emery Street will be closed May 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a neighborhood picnic.

Fountain Street from Centennial Avenue to Hill Street will be closed May 28 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a block party.

Broad Street between Beaver and Thorn streets will be closed June 10 from 7-10 a.m. for an outdoor wellness event called Balance on Broad Street.

It is presented by RE/MAX and featured fitness classes taught by instructors from the Sewickley YMCA and Bag+Barre. Admission is free. Classes are expected to begin at 8 a.m.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---