Kinloch residents press Lower Burrell Council on blight, public safety issues in their neighborhood

Residents of Lower Burrell’s Kinloch neighborhood are demanding answers from city officials about what’s being done to address property and public safety issues they say are being neglected.

“There’s something wrong,” said Kinloch resident John Walter, referencing what he said are a lack of police patrols and properties in poor condition. “We’re not getting our fair share.”

The sometimes heated comments came at a city council meeting at the Kinloch Volunteer Fire Department, where 35 people attended — much more than an average meeting — and just under 10 residents spoke.

It was a regularly scheduled council meeting with the goal of giving Kinloch residents the opportunity to discuss concerns with officials. Kinloch is a Lower Burrell neighborhood tucked off Greensburg Road, not central to the city.

Issues brought up by residents ranged from a lack of police presence and a negative or no response at all from city officials regarding neglected and blighted properties.

Mayor Chris Fabry admitted the Kinloch area hasn’t been a focus of city officials, but he said council plans to change that. He said council will schedule another meeting at the Kinloch fire station this year to update residents on the issues they brought up.

He said that, outside of a playground being installed, “I don’t remember anything ever being pushed in this area, and that’s a shame.”

Some residents, citing incidents in the past few weeks, asked for more police patrols around Kinloch and enforcement on complaints or 911 calls. By the time officers get to Kinloch, the incident is over, people said. Kinloch is somewhat isolated from the rest of Lower Burrell by a large ridge, leaving access limited and circuitous.

Others brought up issues with neglected properties that, they said, have become hazardous or appear to be ignored by city code enforcement.

Resident Tom Bertocki — who has spent 45 years in public works and construction, including a 25-year stint with Lower Burrell — pointed out overgrown and unkempt lots, which he said have brought animals, bugs and other vermin to the neighborhood.

The former Newport Business Institute, previously the Wills School, is one such property with overgrown grass and weeds and a dilapidated parking lot, Bertocki said.

“And there’s discussion about possibly closing Stewart School,” Bertocki said. “Would you let Stewart School on Leechburg Road get like that? No, you wouldn’t.”

Road repaving also requires more attention, he said.

Fabry said city officials will have conversations with police and code enforcement on those issues.

He said the city recently joined a study that will improve chances of obtaining grants and other funding to deal with blighted properties.

“Don’t just think because nobody’s ever done anything in the past, that that’s how it’s going to continue,” Councilman David Stoltz said. “Please call, complain. That’s the only way we’re going to know.”

Said Fabry: “Give us a chance to work on this. Give us a chance to make things better.”

Some in Kinloch remain skeptical, but Bertocki is optimistic.

“I had a long talk with the mayor, and he listened,” Bertocki said. “I’m not going to badmouth these people.

“But I told them, they’re on notice now. So we’ll see what happens.”