Tom Yerace stories, Page 4

Washington Township approves new gas well

CNX Gas Company officials hope residents of Washington Township won’t even notice their latest gas well. The shale gas drilling site, approved by township supervisors, is to be on previously strip-mined property east of Route 66 and north of Beaver Run Road. “Our feeling and hope are that no one...
Arnold rejects offers for abandoned properties from 2 out-of-area buyers

Arnold Council rejected offers to purchase abandoned properties from two buyers who do not live in Western Pennsylvania. In one case, a person from Philadelphia offered $800 for two vacant lots at 1711 and 1713 Third Ave. The other offer was from a person in Los Angeles, who bid $1,507...
Harrison commissioners fill township boards, with one oddity among the appointments

At their final 2023 meeting, the Harrison commissioners filled openings on township boards, all with defined terms — except for one. That one is a seat on the Upper Allegheny Valley Joint Sanitary Authority occupied by Commissioner Charles Dizard who continues to serve, oddly enough, until further notice. Dizard, who...
Harrison residents to pay more in sewage fees; renamed ordinance will make more sewer repairs possible

Note: The cost per 1,000 gallons used was incorrect in the original story. The corrected figures appear here. Harrison residents will not be paying more in property taxes in 2024 but will see an increase in sewage fees. Sewage fees will rise by $20 per quarter, from $1.25 per 1,000...
Allegheny Township promotes 2 corporals to sergeant, hires others to bring police force to 13 officers

The Allegheny Township supervisors have approved the promotion of two officers and hired full-time and part-time officers. Promoted were Cpls. Mark Junod and Charity Hollis, who were elevated to the rank of sergeant. Junod has served in the department since 2007 while Hollis has been a township officer since 2014....
Repair of Brackenridge sinkhole delayed until state funding comes through

Repair of a sinkhole on Roup Avenue in Brackenridge likely will have to wait until at least next month. Borough officials say they’re waiting for state funding to pay for the $1 million project. They expected the money in September, but the state hasn’t approved projects for funding yet. That...
Taxes to rise for majority of residents under proposed West Deer budget

West Deer officials are putting the final touches on a proposed $10.8 million budget for 2024 that will see a tax increase that outweighs an accompanying decrease for most residents. The paradox is due to the establishment of a half-mill fire tax approved by voters Nov. 7 in a referendum....
Merits of Arnold’s firefighter tax credit still debated as measure awaits passage next month

Members of the Arnold Volunteer Fire Department have to wait a little longer to see the firefighter tax credit become reality. Council was expected to vote on the credit, which would give the city’s volunteer firefighters a tax break for their service. The tax credit, approved by the state Legislature...
West Deer elevates sergeant to township’s first deputy chief post

For the first time in its history, the West Deer Police Department has a deputy chief. Township supervisors Wednesday voted to promote Sgt. Timothy Burk to deputy chief. Chief Robert Loper recommended the move. Burk began his career with the department in 2000 as a part-time patrolman. He became a...
Federal lien could delay demolition of condemned Arnold building

A federal lien could halt the condemnation of a structure Arnold Council deems a public health and safety hazard. Acting as the city’s Board of Health, council recently met for a hearing on two abandoned structures code enforcement officer Al Colelli brought forth as potentially hazardous. The buildings are at...
Washington Township business accused of starting work on parking lot addition without approval

The Washington Township supervisors postponed the approval of a parking lot addition to a business which, a neighbor says, started construction without it. Tarp America and its owner, Michael Gazzo, requested the supervisors’ approval for an unlighted 60-foot-by-60-foot parking lot expansion and signs at its location, 920 Route 380. Tarp...
Freeport Area could raise taxes next year based on higher state inflation index

Freeport Area school directors will have more leeway to raise real estate taxes for 2024-25 than in the past 11 years. Brad Walker, Freeport Area’s director of finance and operations, said the district’s real estate tax inflation index calculated by the state will be 7.1% for the next school year....
East Deer’s preliminary 2024 budget includes tax cut

For the third time in eight years, East Deer commissioners have cut real estate taxes for residents and businesses. That news emerged Thursday as the commissioners approved a preliminary budget for 2024. “There will be a real estate tax cut in this budget of 0.25 mills,” Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani...
Freeport Area board extends superintendent’s term with new 5-year contract

Superintendent Ian Magness will lead the Freeport Area School District for five more years. The school board approved a new contract that will keep Magness at Freeport Area until October 2028. “I am humbled and grateful that the school board is giving me an opportunity to lead the district for...
Freeport Area approves $13K to replace roof of salt storage shed that dates to 1960s

For a small school district with limited finances, stretching a dollar is a year-round school board proposition. Residents attending Freeport Area School District’s board meeting were reminded of that last week. This time it wasn’t computers, textbooks or teaching positions hovering over the chopping block but protection for the district’s...
Arnold mayor seeks regulation on use of minibikes

Mayor Joseph Bia said he plans to rein in youths riding minibikes recklessly on Arnold’s streets before they injure somebody, including themselves. Bia brought the matter before city council at its meeting last week. “We’ve got a big problem with kids riding minibikes through the streets,” he said. “They’re breaking...

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