Messages from the Mayor s1

DONALD L. KINOSZ DAVID A. REGOLI Department of Public Affairs Accounts & Finance

FRANK TROZZI, JR IRENE J. KARRS JOSEPH GRILLO Parks & Public Property Streets & Public Improvements Public Safety City

VICTORIA FARINA BRIAN ESHBAUGH Treasurer Controller News

VOLUME 17 ISSUE 3 December 2007

Messages from the Mayor don’t think so, but there are many As we move through this Holiday On the negative side, we have seen the things you can do to help. Season, it is an excellent time to Ponderosa close, with my reflect on where we are as a City, understanding being that the closing 1. Support your local merchants. including the many advantages and was due to retirement and increased They need you to be successful challenges remaining ahead of us. costs. The Burrell Plaza has not been and they work very hard to filled, but a number of people have provide quality merchandise and First, we have seen a lot of new been working hard to bring that service to you. investment in our community; for shopping center back to full 2. Keep your eyes and ears open to example; Steve & Barry’s opened a occupancy. Hopefully things will new opportunities and let me very popular clothing store, break soon. Watch the media for firm know when you see or hear of McDonald’s built a beautiful new announcements. I continue to hear all potential businesses. restaurant, Aldi’s opened a new sorts of rumors about what is or isn’t 3. Sell our “Wonderful City”. It is grocery store, Aarons quickly replaced going to be located there. Remember a great place to live. We have a the Rex appliance store and Valley they are rumors and nothing more very safe community, a beautiful Veterinary opened a state of the art until you hear something official. parks system, a great school clinic. Several other new businesses system, an excellent have opened including: I have also heard that we lost the infrastructure and a reasonable StrongLand Home show. That is cost of living and most of all, Belcan Staffing Solutions simply not true. The owners of the wonderful and caring people. 2734 Leechburg Road former Wards/Penneys site could not Uncle Tony’s Pizza guarantee that the site would be Remember: 2794 Leechburg Road available in February or March. This Game Stop put the Chamber in the position of Shop Lower Burrell First! Hillcrest Shopping Center trying to find another site within the Life Cycle Fitness region. No site was found that could 2008 Taxes Due to rising costs, most 2809 Leechburg Road accommodate the Home Show. This of which you also experience; rising Aaron’s Rental show is very important to many of our healthcare costs, rising heating costs, 3219 Leechburg Road local merchants. Pittsburgh Mills had rising material costs, rising gasoline Aldi’s enough space to hold the show and so costs, etc., we find that is necessary to 2501 Leechburg Road that site was picked. make a small increase in real estate (Crossroads Plaza) taxes. Our shortfall for 2008 was in We also saw the closing of Bowser’s excess of $300,000. In order to hold Rehabilitation Innovations, Inc. Nursery, Paw Print, Chapters Book your costs to a minimum, we are doing 2501 Leechburg Road Store, Caldwell Bankers Real Estate three things – raising taxes 1 mil and Distillo Tailors for various (about $20/year for the average Work is progressing on a new reasons. Some new stores are household), tapping our limited commercial complex in Parnassus at preparing to open. One or two in surplus and borrowing a small amount. the site of the former Family Drive-In. Hillcrest Plaza and one at the former This represents only the second Quintos next to Johnston the Florist. increase in the last 11 years for a total Two new housing developments are of 1.5 mils. This is less than 1% per moving forward. Dandy View Estates All in all, it sounds to be like we have year on average. We will continue to has begun selling lots and the initial fared reasonably well through some work very hard to keep our City taxes construction has started. Rabbit Foot very difficult times. I hear all too low. Lake Development will likely be often that everything is falling apart. I started in the Spring. City News

2008 Sewage Rates: There will also  Keep in touch with your be a 5% increase in sewage rates, On November 1st, 2007 your Lower neighbors. about $4.00/quarter for the average Burrell Police Department received Elevators: home. Again, this is driven by items the Community Traffic Safety Silver  Get on with a group, if possible. well beyond our control. Regulatory Award for leadership and educational  Stand away from the door while agencies are requiring that higher and programming to protect citizens and waiting alone. higher standards be met, our total improve safety from PennDOT.  Don’t ride an elevator alone with nd collection and treatment system is just This is the 2 year in a row that the a stranger. plain old and in need of significant Police Department won this  If you’re uncomfortable with a repair. We are not unique in this sense prestigious award. We were only 1 of stranger get off immediately. in that communities throughout PA are 2 departments from Westmoreland  Stand near the control panel. Hit facing the same issues. The County to receive awards. the alarm button and floor buttons cooperation we have received from if necessary. you on the most part has been very Protecting Yourself at Home good, particularly with respect to If you think someone is inside your smoke and dye testing and making Some simple tips for protecting home, don’t go in and call the police required corrections when violations yourself at home are: from a nearby phone. were found. Lights: We here at the Lower Burrell Police The Municipal Sanitary Authority of  Leave at least one on inside and Department wish you a safe and happy New Kensington has worked very had out when you’re not home. holiday season. to hold down operating costs. They Intruders hate lights. are however in the midst of a $20  When you’re away on a trip use a The Lower Burrell Police Department million upgrade that was absolutely timer to turn lights on and off. is being progressive and proactive for necessary. As a City we will be Unwanted Calls: you! responsible for about one third of that  Don’t give out personal cost spread over a twenty to thirty year information such as your name, period. address and social security A Message from number. Councilman Frank Trozzi In our collection system the main lines  If you have an answering City Parks will require multi-million dollar machine, use it to screen upgrades that will likely start unwanted calls. Helpful Hints on Recycling construction in 2010. Our own Public  Notify the police and phone Works Department has also worked company of any threatening or 1. All recycling must be in a hard to hold down costs. harassing calls. container furnished by the City of Locks: Lower Burrell. (No garbage cans, All of this sounds like a lot, and it is,  Buy high quality deadbolts and bags, laundry baskets, etc.) but all is necessary and required. Rest use them. 2. Newspapers must be kept separate assured, we will do everything we can  Be sure any door and window from other recycling and must be to keep costs low and manageable. locks can be opened quickly in tied or in brown paper bags. (Not case of a fire. mixed with other materials or 2009 Fiftieth Anniversary: In 2009 Strangers: loose to avoid the wind blowing it our City will celebrate its 50th  Install a peephole if possible. through the neighborhood.) Anniversary. If you would like to be  Don’t open the door for strangers, 3. No cardboard products, styrofoam part of the planning and do some unexpected repair people or (ie. Take out food containers, special things in 2009, please call me deliveries. meat packaging, etc.) or Judy Charlesworth at 724-335-9875  Always ask for a company id. 4. No magazines or telephone books. and volunteer. I plan to hold a Call to verify if you’re suspicious. 5. Smash down plastics (milk jugs, meeting in January to put together the Neighborhood Friends: pop bottles, etc.) framework for our anniversary year.  Watch other houses or 6. Put recyclables out to the curb the apartments. Let your neighbors night prior to scheduled pickup know of anything that is day. 7. If additional bins are needed A Message from suspicious. please contact City Hall. The Lower Burrell Police Department  Offer your phone to neighbors for emergency use. Ask if you can number for Judy is 724-335-9875, ext. 208. Police Department Receives Award use their’s when necessary. City News

Happy Holidays from that has been mandated by the of the summer will be 6:00 A.M. to Councilman Trozzi!! Pennsylvania Department of 2:30 P.M. Environmental Protection (DEP) to eliminate storm connections from our Previous employees must complete a sanitary system. As of this date every new application each year and will home in the City (approx. 5,000 only work for a total of four years. To buildings) that is connected to the apply pick up an application from our sanitary system has had the receptionist on the main floor of City preliminary smoke test and visual Hall between the hours of 9:00 A.M. Public Works check. We are now in the final stages and 5:00 P.M., Monday through By Councilwoman Irene Karrs of dye testing. Friday. City Engineer Cunningham, PE By the middle of January all testing On a separate note, the City has been Street Department will have been completed and final accepted to receive the benefits of a notification letters of improper grant from the Pennsylvania Higher We have already had two snowfalls connections will be sent. It is Education Assistance Agency and there will be more to come. important that these improper (PHEAA). This grant will allow the connections to the sanitary system be City to employ up to four college One of our major problems when removed by March 31. On April 1, students during their spring and clearing the streets are vehicles parked 2008, new monitoring of the entire summer vacations. The students will on the street. We have asked several systems flows will begin. The lower be paid directly by the State and the times that residents remove their the flows, the fewer repairs that will City will incur only minor insurance vehilces from the street parking when be mandated by DEP. This simple costs. The students will work directly snow falls are predicted. We have repair at the individual homes can for the City Engineer studying the received a lack of cooperation in literally save the City millions of local stormwater and sewer systems certain areas. dollars worth of repairs and and will help meet new DEP expansions in the sewer system. Your requirements. We will no longer plow or salt streets cooperation is greatly appreciated. that our trucks cannot get through While you will not be applying safetly. If this creates a problem for This fall the Sewer Department directly to the City for this position, you; you may want to talk to your completed the most ambitious project we encourage you to contact Christine neighbors that are not cooperating undertaken by the Public Works Schubert, Public Works Secretary, with the City. Department. With the assistance of from 9:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. at 724- the Street Department a 5,800’ 889-2008 for information on how to We can no longer jeopardize our extension to the sanitary system was apply. We have the phone numbers drivers and equipment. Remember, installed on Millers Lane that will and addresses of the State personnel they are the first ones on the road. eventually serve up to 200 new homes. and can help you through the process. We would like to say thank you to the Please do not call to request that your residents on Millers Lane that took the The only requirements that will have street be plowed first. Over the years construction in stride with almost zero to be met are that the student is an a well-defined snow route has been complaints. Your patience and undergraduate enrolled at an eligible developed. This plan is the fastest understanding during the construction Pennsylvania State University (Penn way to clear all the roads of the City in process was greatly appreciated. State and others) and meets financial the shortest span of time. The only When the weather breaks in the spring, requirements. They also must be time that we vary from this plan is we will return for final landscaping enrolled as an engineering or when we are contacted by the and road repairs. environmental science major. ambulance service or the fire department so that they can answer an Summer Employment Applications amergency call. Applications are now being taken for A Message from May you all have a safe and healthy the Street Department Summer helpers Councilman Joseph Grillo New Year! for 2008. Applicants must be at least Public Safety 18 years of age, currently attending Sewer Department college or will be attending in the Fall. At the December Council Meeting we Work normally begins in May and approved two ordinances that require a For the last three years we have been lasts for 15 weeks. The hours for most home inspection on any new home reporting on the smoke and dye testing sale to make sure that they meet the City News safety codes and a rental inspection is c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center burned fuel and carbon monoxide to needed to keep the building up to 6900 Georgia Ave., N.W. infiltrate back into your home causing code, it will help curb absentee Washington, DC 20307-5001 illness or even death. You can prevent landlords. If you want to read them, this from occurring by having your they are available at City Hall or Pass the info on, thank you!! furnace and chimney inspected and contact me. cleaned once a year by a qualified heating specialist. Please keep your driveways and sidewalks clear from snow and ice in case emergency personnel have to Helpful Tips Treasurer’s Office reach you. Please check on your neighbors who live by themselves as Smoke Alarms: Smoke alarms Happy Holidays from the Treasurer the temperature becomes cold and should be installed on every level of Victoria Farina & her Staff. frigid. each structure and in the hallway leading into the bedrooms. Keep your Make a tax deductible donation to the batteries fresh by replacing them every How Did They Know? fire company, the money is well spent year when you adjust your clocks. and it stays in our community. Did you ever wonder how someone Electrical Outlets: Never overload was privy to events occurring in the Here are some things to think about, an outlet with more appliances than it city prior to any public let us keep our soldiers in our thoughts is designed to hold. One spark could announcement? The answer is simple. and prayers, whether near or abroad. start a very serious fire. Be sure to use They subscribe to the city’s electronic Pray for a quick resolution for the a safe powerstrip with surge protection distribution of the newsletter. Join in soldiers in Iraq. If you have an or unplug appliances when they are and be better informed by receiving opportunity visit someone in the not being used. Also avoid using the newsletter before it goes to print. hospital or nursing home, it will appliances with damaged cords. brighten both of your days. Building codes require homes to be To enroll, respond to built with a ground fault interrupter [email protected] In closing from my family to yours, (GFI) in each outlet located near a Type newsletter in the subject line and may you have a Merry Christmas, water source (kitchen sink, bathroom provide your name, address and e-mail Happy New Year and the happiest basin, or bathtub). Older homes may address. All information is holiday season ever – God bless. not have these but homeowners can confidential, we do not share this have GFI’s installed. information with any one or any P.S. While writing Christmas cards, organization; we do not sell our lists please include Furnaces: If your furnace does not and our site is spam free. have enough air to properly burn fuel A Recovering American Soldier it will starve. This allows partially

City of Lower Burrell PRSRT STD 2800 Bethel St. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lower Burrell, PA 15068-3227 NEW KENSINGTON, PA Phone: (724) 335-9875 Fax: (724) 335-9881 PERMIT NO. 332