Ross police celebrate promotions, lifesaving efforts

Two Ross police officers were promoted to sergeant during the Aug. 19 meeting of township commissioners, and three other officers were presented with awards for helping to save local residents’ lives.

Commissioners unanimously approved the promotions of Matthew Immekus and Peter Chuberko, while Chief Cristyn Zett commended the rapid and ultimately successful responses of Kevin Novak, Nicholas Anderson and David Horak to health emergencies.

Daniel DeMarco, president of the board of commissioners, acknowledged the special occasion for the new sergeants while adding a point of interest regarding one of them:

“Sgt. Chuberko was sworn in, to the day, exactly 23 years ago as a Ross Township police officer.”

Zett provided details about Novak’s life-saving efforts. On May 13, he was dispatched to a Wimer Drive home for a man in cardiac arrest, and the officer began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation prior to the arrival of Ross/West View Emergency Medical Services personnel.

“Officer Novak continued CPR with the medics until the male was transported to the hospital,” the chief said. “The male has made a full recovery because of Officer Novak’s actions.”

On July 7, Anderson and Horak responded to a home on Rose Avenue for a 65-year-old woman in cardiac arrest.

“Officer Horak quickly assessed the female, began CPR, and Officer Anderson used an automatic electronic defibrillator to deliver a shock to the female,” Zett said. “EMS arrived on scene and was able to regain the patient’s pulse. The female made a full recovery because of Officer Horak and Officer Anderson’s swift response to a critical situation.”

DeMarco thanked the officers.

“I don’t think people realize that when you’re out there, sometimes you’re faced with that prospect of saving somebody’s life,” he said. “I don’t know how I would react, quite frankly. But that’s why you guys do what you do in your training.”

In other business:

• Commissioners approved real estate tax refunds totaling $207,225.35, covering 2019 through 2023, as per a change order issued by the Allegheny County Board of the Assessment and Revision of Taxes.

Four property owners account for the bulk of the overall amount, as listed in township records: Gumberg Stanley R & Trustee, $93,134.16; McIntyre Square Associates, $39,264.26; McKnight Pitts LLC, $36,235.84; and Nordstrom Inc., $21,107.14.

Despite a unanimous vote, some commissioners expressed concern about the effect of tax refunds, now and in the future, on the municipal budget.

The issue came up during discussions in formulating the 2024 budget, DeMarco said, and he supported the idea of an “incremental tax increase.”

“I don’t know how we’re going to avoid it,” he said about an increase for the coming year. “It would have been best if we’d addressed it last year. But I think I’m going to be saying, ‘I told you so’ in a few months.”

Ross’ real estate tax rate has been 2.7 mills since 2011, when the rate was adjusted to correspond with the county’s most recent property reassessment.

“I don’t know how you survive for that long on essentially the same revenue,” DeMarco said.

• Commissioners introduced ordinances, to be voted on later, for the placement of three stop signs where York and Penn drives meet.

The intersection’s triangular configuration includes two short, unnamed streets that would receive stop signs, as well.

York Drive connects Jacks Run Road and Bascom Avenue in the southwestern part of the township.