The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on September 16, 2024, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.

 MEMBERS PRESENT:  Gregory Artman, Chairman                                   Scott Kifer, Member    

 Mary Ralston, Vice Chairman                                Jeanna Cerra, Secretary - Treasurer 

VISITORS:                          Jeff Retter, Dave Peppler, Rich Simpson, Ken Reynolds                           

 OTHERS PRESENT:      

 Mr. Artman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  Copies of the Agenda and Minutes were given to all attending and were posted along with the Treasurer’s Report and Bill Payment List on the bulletin board for review.   Public comments will be taken at the end of the meeting. 

Mr. Kifer made a motion to adopt the Minutes from August 19, 2024, regular meeting; Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report for August 2024, Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. Ms. Cerra announced that form FHWA 536 which was usually due in September has been changed and will now be due in June and the report for 2023 will be waived.  Receipts for August 2024 were $79,082.75 and expenses were $286,230.49 leaving a total balance of $462,322.37 (General Fund –$361,610.13; Capital Fund – $177,502.85; State Fund - $77758.17; Street Light Fund –$22,954.07)

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for August 16-September 12, 2024; Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. Each Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to himself or any member of his family.

 CORRESPONDENCE

PSATS Regional Forum is scheduled for October 2, 2024, in Canonsburg.

A letter was sent from MEIT listing the health benefit waiting periods.

A Municipal Land Use Letter was sent from People Gas for a gas line replacement on Dime Road.

 STAFF REPORTS

Police Report – Report from August 1-30, 2024

 Maintenance Crew-Mrs. Ralston said she talked to Terry Bowser about looking at Hickory Road and he told her he would check the quote from last year and it should not be much more. Mrs. Ralston made a motion that if the quote is not more than 20% of an increase from last year it will be accepted; Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. The crew finished pipes on Garvers Ferry Hill and are now working on the other side of Garvers Ferry.  Mr. Artman said a new hot water tank is needed at the community building. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to get a new one, Mr. Artman seconded it.

 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES-

Parks Committee No committee

Planning Commission- The commission completed the burning brochure and the ordinance Burning along the Kiskiminetas River. They are now working on a Solar Farm Ordinance and next AG Security.

OLD BUSINESS

Mrs. Ralston reported there are 5 municipalities interested in the Regional. They are meeting weekly, and trying to agree the details and the regional will be up and running by January1, 2025

Peoples Gas backed out of the proposal they had to move the regulating station to a paper alley owned by the township on Washington Street. They felt the township and they would not be able to reach an agreement.

No information on the LSA Grant.

The DGLVR Grant project on Garvers Ferry must be done and inspected before another grant can be applied for there is not enough time for that so the township will have to wait until next year to apply for another.

Shields started milling Garvers Ferry Hill and Chestnut today and should have both roads finished by the end of week for the county grant.

Clean up Day is scheduled for Saturday the 28^th.

NEW BUSINESS

2025’s MMO payment will be $57,527.00, Mrs. Ralston made a motion to have that in the 2025 Budget, Mr. Kifer seconded it.

The Board chose October 10^th at 6:00 pm to have a Budget Work Session.

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to adopt the Amended Burning Along the Kiskiminetas River Ordinance, Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

Mr. Kifer made a motion to have Halloween in the township on October 31 from 6-8pm, Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to pay the Foreign Fire Relief payment to PTVFD, in the amount of $12,151.10 once the payment is in the account. Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

Mr. Kifer made a motion to not accept the bid from Stephenson’s Equipment for the new plow, Mrs. Ralston seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. Mr. Artman said he may be able to find someone to cut the old one down so it would be better.

 PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Reynolds asked if anyone looked at Maple Road, Mrs. Ralston said the crew cleaned out a pipe and fixed the water situation. Mr. Reynold said that was not the problem, the road is sinking, and the hill is becoming a wash board again already. Mr. Artman said he would go look at it again.

ADJOURNMENT

 The next Regular Monthly Meeting will be held October 21, 2024, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.

There being no further questions or comments, Mrs. Ralston moved to adjourn at 7:29 pm; Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.        

 Respectfully Submitted,

 Jeanna Cerra

Secretary-Treasurer