Fox Chapel to build new public works office building

Fox Chapel public works officials plan to move into a new office building by winter if all goes well with a recently approved construction project.

Council unanimously awarded four contracts on May 15 related to an estimated 4,000-square-foot facility to be built behind the borough building and near the public works garage.

Construction is expected to start within 60 days and be completed in four to six months.

FMS Construction in Sharpsburg was awarded the general contractor contract out of four bidders at just under $504,000.

D&G Mechanical Inc. of West Middlesex was awarded the HVAC contract out of four bidders at $44,100.

McRandal Co. was awarded the plumbing contract out of five bidders at $96,200.

McCurley Houston Electric of New Castle was awarded the electrical contract out of four bidders at a little more than $38,000.

Total project cost was listed at about $682,000 to be paid out of a bond fund. The borough budgeted $700,000 for the building.

Manager Gary Koehler said bond fund was established from $5.4 million in bond proceeds in 2019. It has been used to pay for various upgrades to borough facilities.

Koehler saidabout $417,000 will remain in the fund after the public works project.

Fox Chapel Public Works Director Larry Kurpakus said he and his staff have been working out of the public works garage since January.

“We don’t have any office space,” Kurpakus said. “(The new building will also) include a break room for the public works staff and an additional storage garage. Since we’re transitioning out of the lower officers here (at the borough building), that’s getting transitioned to the police department and fire department, we’ve been operating out of the new garage.”

A former maintenance area will be torn down to make room for the new office.

There are nine full-time public works staffers and a few seasonal helpers.

In other business

• The borough’s paving project is expected to begin in early June.

Council unanimously voted April 17 to award a near $1.428 million contract to Bakerstown-based Shields Asphalt Paving.

Koehler said Shields Asphalt was the lowest of three bidders, and the company has done work in Fox Chapel before.

Eight roads and a riding trail entrance are to be repaired this year:

• Autumn Path Lane, from Silent Run Road to the cul-de-sac;

• Foxwood Drive, from Highland Road to the cul-de-sac;

• Riding Meadow Road, from Hemlock Hollow Road to Fox Chapel Road;

• Riding Trail entrance, from Hunt Road to the trail loop;

• The loop at riding trail;

• Sweet Water Court, from Sweet Water Lane to the cul-de-sac;

• Sweet Water Lane, from Fairview Road to the cul-de-sac;

• Willow Farms Lane, from Dorseyville Road to Willow Farms Court;

• Windmere Drive, from Powers Run Road to the cul-de-sac;

• Hillcrest Road, from Fox Chapel Road to the end.

The borough budgeted $1.1 million for paving this year, with the remainder of the costs covered by reserve funds.

• Council adopted an ordinance establishing the sewer rates for Allegheny Valley Joint Sewer Authority and restated the Fox Chapel, Harmar and Alcosan’s sewer rate.

AVJSA rates are going up from $10.05 per 1,000 gallons to $11.95 per 1,000 gallons as of late April.

The change will be reflected by at least the third-quarter invoices.

AVJSA plant Manager Tim Kephart said the rate increase will only impact about 43 properties in Fox Chapel.

The rate hike was necessary to help fund a $102.6 million expansion as part of a consent order with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Kephart said the authority bills Fox Chapel and the borough bills the residents.

• Police Chief Michael Stevens said conditional offers of employment were made to two “seasoned officers” in other communities. They have yet to accept Fox Chapel’s officer.