South West Communities Chamber of Commerce hosts municipal managers luncheon
Managers from six South Hills municipalities fielded questions during the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Ed Sickmund, president of the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce, asked municipal managers about their communities.
The six municipal managers that spoke at the annual South West Communities Chamber of Commerce municipal managers luncheon March 10 at the Club at Nevillewood said it’s important that municipalities cooperate with each other so everyone can succeed.
Case in point, the annual fireworks show Upper St. Clair had hosted with Bethel Park for 15 years. That partnership, however, has come to an end because of construction of an apartment building next to the mall’s parking lot and Port Authority light rail station. It was no longer safe to shoot fireworks off at the mall.
This year, however, Upper St. Clair will partner with South Fayette Township on a joint show. The likely site for that show could be Fairview Park off of Boyce Road, or Boyce Mayview Park.
“We’re working together as a team,” said South Fayette municipal manager Ryan Eggleston of the arrangement with Upper St. Clair.
The format of the discussion was changed for this year’s chamber luncheon. Rather than making an individual presentation about what is taking place in their respective communities, the managers from South Fayette, Upper St. Clair, Bridgeville, Collier, Scott, and Heidelberg fielded questions from Ed Sickmund, the chamber president.
When asked what significant projects were taking place in South Fayette, Eggleston said two four-story buildings will be constructed at Abele Business Park and one tax mill – roughly $1 million – has been dedicated to road improvements in the township.
“Now we need to sell Star City and start work on a garage for Public Works,” he said.
Matthew Serakowski, manager of Upper St. Clair, said there are a number of planned road improvements in the township, particularly around McLaughlin Road and McMurray and Bethel Church roads.
In Collier, manager Sal Sirabella said efforts are being made to resurrect the local historical society in the township and there is now room in the community center to store historical documents.
“There’s a lot of history in Collier,” Sirabella said. “If you have any records, we have a place to store them.”
Scott Township residents will get to enjoy the new community swimming pool, which will have a number of water features for children such as water slides and buckets, said Denise Fitzgerald, the township manager.
“We had to bite the bullet,” said Fitzgerald, adding that rates will remain the same. “We will open on time.”
In Bridgeville, Pennsylvania American Water Co. is continuing its work on new water lines, said Lori Collins, Bridgeville’s manager.
“It’s been quite an experience,” Collins said. “But, when we’re done, the streets will be paved.”
Heidelberg’s manager, Amanda Loutitt, who has been in her position less than a year, told attendees much of the borough’s council members are new, too.
“We are in a bit of a unique situation,” she said.