Municipal managers: change is in the air
Change and growth were the buzz words of municipal managers from Scott, Heidelberg, Bridgeville, South Fayette and Collier, who were all the featured speakers 2015 South West Communities Chamber of Commerce Community Outlook 2015 luncheon March 10 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Bethel Park.
Denise Fitzgerald, Scott Twp. manager, told the 100 or so at the luncheon that Scott will be replacing its community swimming pool after determining the current one has reached the end of its useful life.
“The Scott Park pool was built in 1968,” Fitzgerald said. “It has gotten to the point that it needs replaced.”
The new swimming pool, when constructed will have water features, a multipurpose aquatic facility and a shallow entry way for families with small children.
Besides building a new pool, Fitzgerald said the township plans to add an all-season ice rink in the park “at the end of the season.” The rink, which will be made of synthetic ice, will be available for both ice skating and hockey, she said.
South Fayette Twp. Manager Ryan Eggleston said the township has added some new faces to employment roster in the last 12 months. John Phoennick, a 25-year veteran of the township police department, was named chief. He replaces Louis Volle, who retired.
Paula Simmons is South Fayette’s new recreation director. Simmons was previously the recreation director for Brentwood Borough. And Andrea Iglar is the township’s new community development director, a newly created position.
Eggleston said the state Department of Transportation is planning on doing a number of road projects in South Fayette this summer, including adding a left turn lane and traffic signal at Bursca Business Park, and Route 50 to Cecil is expected to be overhauled as well, he said.
Lori Collins, Bridgeville manager, said the borough is planning on updating its zoning. The last time Bridgeville revised its zoning was 2008, she said.
“We want to try and make our zoning more user friendly,” she said.
Because Bridgeville has a lot of pedestrian traffic in its main business district, she said new signage will be installed this year.
“No one knows where they are in the borough of Bridgeville,” said Collins, who asked chamber members whether they preferred modern signage, or traditional red brick signage. Most of the people responded that they liked the red brick.
In Upper St. Clair, plans are proceeding with the Boyce Mayview Park field lighting and the Wiltshire Park renovations, as well as the opening of The Clubhouse, a playground for children located next to The Miracle League field, said Mark Mansfield, assistant township manager.
Work on the new Whole Foods store on Washington Road at the site of the former CONSOL Inc. headquarters should begin in April, he said. Whole Foods is the main tenant in the development dubbed Siena, which will include shops, restaurants and residential development.
Collier Township manager Sal Sirabella said the township’s taxable real estate value is just under a $1 billion. He said there will be no tax increase in the coming year and real estate tax millage will remain at 2.73 mills.
The median property value in the township, according to current assessments, is $207,835 and the average property owner pays $567 in tax, he said.