South Fayette recognizes police, firefighter heroics
Fairview assistant fire chief Keith Dernosek ran almost a mile without shoes to a burning apartment on Washington Pike May 27 to rescue an elderly woman from the blaze that would take her husband’s life. Dernosek and three South Fayette police officers-Michael Zurcher, Collin Griffith and Michael Wesolek- were recognized by chief John Phoennik at the June 10 commissioners meeting.
“As tragic as it was that (Albert Camburn) died, you saved (Wanda’s) life, and you can take pride in knowing your actions saved her,” Phoennik said.
The officers were on-scene within four minutes, he said, and if Dernosek had not seen the woman’s elbow in a doorway through the thick, black smoke and decided to reach past the flames and grab her, she would have died. He also was able to rescue her dog.
In regular business, the board of commissioners approved a July 8 public hearing for potential revisions to the township’s oil and gas drilling ordinances after the planning commission sent it back with a vote of no confidence to restrict natural gas drilling only to industrial zoned areas.
The board also authorized giving $100 to The Friends of Killbuck Lodge organization as the namesake building will be reconstructed and documented as part of its filming through DIY Network’s “Barnwood Builders” program. Camera and construction crews will be on site at the 1700’s-era log cabin in Oakdale on June 12 when it is torn down. Crews will return in July as it is rebuilt, according to a letter sent to the township.
In other business, the board approved updated plans from Newbury Market project manager Eric Newhouse, who said he wanted to flip the orientation of some buildings at the secondary entrance near 150 Millers Run Road. He also gave an updated timeline saying a bridge should be completed by early August. He described the currently anonymous tenants as resturuants, a bank, a wireless phone store, and a nail salon. Newhouse said a more accurate timeline would be provided once they started paving in August.
Commissioner Deron Gabriel, who did not secure enough write-in votes for the Republican nomination in November for re-election, was not present for a second time at the meeting. Commissioners discussed in executive session his lawsuit against the township over his board censure for allegedly seeking solicitor opinions without the authority or direction of the rest of the board. Spokeswoman Andrea Iglar said no action was taken in the closed-door meeting.