Parks Township
Board of Supervisors
May 15, 2017
The
Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on May
15, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North
Vandergrift.
MEMBERS PRESENT: F. L.
Shannon, Chairman Paul
R. Duriancik, Vice-Chairman Thomas M. Filo, III, Member Mary E. Ralston,
Secretary-Treasurer
VISITORS PRESENT: Joe
Seren, Jeff Retter, Brenda Milliman, Deb
Belles, Art Walker, John A. Voyten, Gregg Artman
OTHERS PRESENT: Chief
Doug Ciuca, Parks Township Police
Mr.
Shannon called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag. Copies of the
Agenda, Minutes, Treasurer's Report, and Bill Payment List were posted on the
bulletin board for review. Public
comments will be taken at the end of the meeting. Mrs. Ralston was taping the meeting.
Mr.
Duriancik requested that a moment of silence be observed for Mr. Paul Munko, a
life-long resident of the Township who always helped out the Township as much
as he could. He passed away yesterday; may
he rest in peace.
Mr.
Filo made a motion to adopt the Minutes of the April 17, 2017 meeting; Mr.
Duriancik seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston informed the Board that a Police Pension CD will mature on May 22,
2017; she won't know what the rates are until Wednesday. The Fire Escrow money for the house on Grant
Street is still in our account as nothing has been done with the house that burned. Mr. Duriancik moved to accept the Treasurer's
Report for April 2017; Mr. Filo seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the vote
unanimous. Receipts were $82,899.16 and
expenditures were $50,963.18 leaving a total balance of $312,427.10 (General
Fund - $48,684.09; Capital Funds - $37,308.68; Fire Escrow - $13,956.94; State
Fund - $194,184.01; and Street Light Fund - $18,293.98).
Mr.
Duriancik asked about the payment to Joshua Swank. Mrs. Ralston told him that Mr. Swank was the
instructor for mandatory CPR and AED
police training. Mr. Duriancik also
asked about the payment to Ed's Tire & Auto Service for work done on the
2012 Charger; Chief Ciuca said it was for a tie rod end. Mrs. Ralston clarified that the payment to
PTMA was for water at the Dime Building and Sewage at the Community Building. Mr. Duriancik then moved to approve the Bill
Payment List for April 13 thru May 10, 2017; Mr. Filo seconded it and Mr.
Shannon made the vote unanimous. Each
Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to
himself or any member of his family.
CORRESPONDENCE
KVWPCA
sent a copy of their March 15, 2017 Minutes.
PTMA
sent a copy of their March 28, 2017 Minutes.
Walsh
Equipment invited the Supervisors to attend their regional open house scheduled
for Thursday, June 15th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
STAFF REPORTS
Police
Report - Mrs. Ralston read the Police Report for April 1 thru April 30, 2017.
Maintenance
Crew - Mr. Duriancik reported that the Crew mostly worked on Kepple Hill; they
had to return a couple times because of run-off from a driveway on Elk Avenue
that continues to be a problem; most of the pipes have been installed; but,
some of the outlets need to be addressed.
He made a motion to order a load of #4 stone, or whatever is about the
size of a softball in diameter; Mr. Filo seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the
vote unanimous. Mr. Duriancik noted that
he gave each of the Supervisors a list of things that need done on the roads
and he would like to discuss this later on in the meeting.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES
Parks
Committee - Mrs. Ralston joined the members of the Parks Committee to inspect
the three parks on May 9th and gave the Supervisors the following report :
North
Vandergrift Park -
Small sliding
board seat has a large hole about 12" in diameter; needs removed and
replaced.
New I-Bolts are
needed for the swing set; the hardware for the seats needs looked at; one mat
under the swings is all broken up.
See-Saw is in bad
shape; Mr. Gene Bell tightened some bolts; tires need replaced; the Committee
would like to have it removed and a new play structure installed.
New wood is
needed for the tops and seats of the two larger picnic tables; the 4 smaller
tables need pressure washed. The new
table at the Dime Building needs brought in.
New wood is
needed for the two benches near the pavilion and the one near the basketball
court.
Weeds near the
bridge need cut.
Mulch needs added
to the play area as the geotextile fabric is sticking up in several places;
plus the existing mulch is really compacted and below the borders.
The pavilion, picnic tables, benches, and
swing set need painted.
The pavilion roof
is to be replaced by volunteer company (Sherrie Polka is arranging for this).
Kiskimere
Park -
Mulch needs added
to the tops of the borders.
Top soil needs
added to the outside of the borders.
New wood is
needed for the bench at the basketball court.
Tables need
pressure washed.
A hole in the
ceiling of the pavilion in the right corner, lower side, needs closed off as
bees nest there.
The base of the
cement post at the fence of the basketball court needs filled in.
The pavilion,
bench, picnic tables, and swing set needs painted.
The dusk-to-dawn
light needs fixed.
The handicapped
parking space needs redone.
Kepple
Hill Park -
Drainage problems
need corrected.
The sod area of
the playground needs removed, new geotextile fabric and stone added, and new
mulch installed.
Bolts are
sticking up in the Blue Ramp.
On the Monkey
Bars, where the first loop meets the side, it is all rusted and cracked at the
weld.
Downspouts on the
pavilion need repaired or possibly replaced.
Picnic tables
need pressure washed.
A brace on the
basketball court needs fixed.
The pavilion,
picnic tables, and swing set need painted.
Also,
new signs are needed at each park and there are new grills to be installed in
all three parks.
Mrs. Belles and Mrs.
Milliman discussed asking the fire department to power wash the picnic tables,
and informed the Board that there is topsoil available two houses down from the Kiskimere Park that can be used to fill in
around the border of the play area. Mrs. Belles reported that Mr. Shawn Rowe, from
Dunmire-Kerr Funeral Home, is getting a bench for each park. The free lunch program starts June 16th and
will be at the North Vandergrift and Kiskimere Parks. Mr. Shannon stated that they will have to get
the guys to concentrate on one park at a time. The ladies stressed that the small slide and
the see-saw at North Vandergrift need fixed right away, as they are really
dangerous in their current condition. Mr. Duriancik commented that when you consider
all of the parks and all of the roads, it's overwhelming what needs to be
done. It's not only manpower but
moneywise as far as the materials that are needed to fix these particular
things. He and Mrs. Ralston attended the
Commissioners Town Hall meeting, and they said the Belmont was no longer going
to get all the money, that it was going to be spread around to all the
townships, but they haven't done that. Mrs.
Ralston checked with DCNR and they said there is no reason wood mulch could not
be put over the rubber mulch. There are
places where some of the fabric is sticking up through the mulch in North
Vandergrift, so some additional mulch needs added. Mrs. Belles added that there is a group of
kids from the Church of God that want to help with painting at the parks. Mr. Duriancik stated safety issues must be
addressed first, and since the lunches are at North Vandergrift and Kiskimere,
those parks should be done first. Mr.
Duriancik added that there are little giddy-up animals that were painted and
they can be reinstalled. Mrs. Ralston
will order the signs for all three parks.
Planning
Committee - the Committee spent most of the meeting working on flood maps and
parcels. There are two new file cabinets and they are
setting up a system that shows every parcel in the Township that is within or
adjacent to the floodplain. They have
identified all the parcels and will set up a file for each one. The Committee is also going to design a
brochure highlighting some of the MS-4 program requirements to use as an
educational tool for the public. Also,
the electronics collection on Clean Up Day went very well; they took 33 TVs and
30 other items. Mr. Duriancik expressed
his thanks to Mr. Rob Burkett, Mr. Tim Metzler, Mrs. Debbie Belles, Ms. Sherrie
Polka, Mrs. Ralston, and Sgt. Arce for their work on Clean Up Day. They had 10-12 dumpsters and received $180.00
in donations. Mrs. Belles added that Mr.
Duriancik worked his butt off too.
People were so appreciative.
OLD BUSINESS
Pump
Station Road Update - Mr. Knepshield needs to return the plans for the Pump
Station Road culvert so another company can look at them to give us a quote.
MS-4
Program Compliance; Stormwater Management Ordinance - The Solicitor is making
corrections to the draft provided by Senate Engineering; the ordinance will
have to be adopted by June.
Laurel
Road D & G Project Update - The project has been completed, inspected, and
approved; the contractor has been paid; and, all the invoices have been
submitted to Mr. Gregg Smith of the Conservation District for reimbursement,
including the invoice for the extra pipe that had to be purchased.
Dime
Building Light Fixtures - The following three quotes have been received:
RLJ Electric
(Jerry Jones) - To Replace with T-5,
three lights $600 plus $350-$400 labor; to replace with LED, three lights $1350 plus $350-$400 labor.
Suppers Electric
(George Suppers) - To replace three
lights, including labor $1200 or one light $400.
P&C Heating
and Air Conditioning (Steve Potoka) -To replace five lights $2695; these are
for good LED lights, but there are different lights available that are less
costly.
Because
the quotes are for different types of lights, the Supervisors decided to table
this for now until they have a chance to review everything and discuss their
options.
Kepple
Hill Project Update - Mr. Don Lassiter, of Liberoni Inc., sent an email with
proposed changes to the paving project and an estimated increase in price. Mr. John Poproch, our PennDot representative,
said we do not have to make any changes unless we wanted to; these companies
put a bid in; the bid package contained exactly what we wanted done; and, since
they bid, they have to do that for the amount that they bid. Nothing was mentioned about scratch and
level; and granted it would make a better project but it is not necessary to do
it. Mr. Shannon stated he thought the
original bidding was going to be sufficient to do the project. Mrs. Ralston explained that neither Midland
nor Liberoni came to look at the roads and they tried to say she just bid out a
certain quantity, but Mr. Poproch did the bid package and he had each road
listed and the amount needed for each road.
Mr. Duriancik commented that they came after the fact and that's when
they said they did not think this would work; if you try to level the roads the
way they are, you are going to run out of material. Mr. Shannon said according to Mr. Poproch,
the way we had it bid, it would suffice, as he's seen a lot worse roads than we
have that have been done. Mr. Shannon
said we can't do anything with it until Mr. Poproch talks with Mr.
Duriancik. Mr. Shannon reminded everyone
that they had to try to find some money to fix that slide on the back hill
too. Mrs. Ralston said Mr. Pollick
called and said they have us scheduled for June 23rd to seal coat Locust, E.
2nd Street, and Kepple Hill Road. Mr.
Duriancik commented that the one call is marked on the back hill, but there's
been nothing marked from the gas company yet.
We either need to contact PUC or someone because the gas company is just
giving us the run around about the leaks.
Mr. Duriancik also reported that someone stole the flags from our signs,
so we will have to get some from Walsh.
Mr. Gregg Artman asked what was going on with the gas lines and Mr.
Duriancik explained that the road slid where the two 10" lines come under
the road. Originally, we contacted the
gas company and was told that they had abandoned those lines and they weren't
concerned about those lines, so they did nothing about it; now that is where
the slide occurred. Senate Engineering
came up and said that was part of the problem, as the water is following along
those pipes and going right under the road.
Mr. Duriancik said unless something is done with those pipes, he doesn't
know what we are going to do with that.
Also, there's a gas leak up there with another line; the road sunk where
the gas lines and gas leak are. The gas
company is now working along SR 66, near the old Uncle Charley's; the slide is
above that area. Mr. Duriancik asked if,
by not sealing Kepple (the back hill), does that put Locust in jeopardy of
getting done in the time frame we have to do it. Mr. Shannon said they were going to do the
seal coating in June, and by some miracle we may have the back hill fixed by
then. Mr. Duriancik said he would not
bid this out, but would cut that, have the gas company do something with those
pipes, drive some guide rail posts in, fill in with R-7 stone, and build up the
road surface. There was some discussion
about calling the news media about the gas company's failure to do anything.
NEW BUSINESS
PTVFD
Annual Allotment - Mr. Filo moved to disburse the annual allotment of $7,215 to
the PTVFD upon receiving the report as to how the funds for last year were
used. Mr. Duriancik seconded it and Mr.
Shannon made the vote unanimous. Mrs.
MIlliman commented that we give an allocation to the fire department every
year, yet when we need to use the social hall for the benefit of the Township,
we have to pay for use of the facility.
Mr. Shannon said the Board cannot get involved with how the firemen
operate and he suggested they attend a meeting and talk with the firemen. Mrs. Belles said she had done that.
Teamsters
Request for Dates to Negotiate Contract - The Board instructed the Secretary to
notify Ms. Betty Rose Fischer that they are available to meet to begin
negotiating a new contract on June 20th or 21st, or July 18th or 19th after
3:00 pm.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr.
John Voyten informed the Board that the ditches at Kiskimere need cleaned,
especially past Dana Hart's place where there is no ditch at all; the water
needs to be gotten off the road; he had two feet of water in his house due to
the fact that water wasn't channeled properly.
He said if the Township took a backhoe up there, he would operate it
free of charge and get the ditches cleaned up there.
Ms.
Brenda Milliman stated that the water next to the church is causing her house
to shift; it is coming from between the church and Allenworth's place. She has gone to the insurance company and has
sought legal counsel because she didn't know what to do. Mr. Duriancik said he thought they addressed
some of that problem. Mr. Voyten said
there is an old church spring running underground in that area that is about 8
X 8 and about 4 ft. deep that was covered up.
He offered to take Mr. Duriancik up there to look at it. Mr. Duriancik said as they work in each individual
area, they will try to address these issues; what they don't want to do is jump
from Kepple Hill to Dime to Kiskimere, etc. Mrs. Milliman requested that they not wait so
long that her house goes down over the hill.
She also commented on the "No Dumping" sign in the church
parking lot, stating that people are dumping there all the time. The Township made Mr. Johnson clean that out
at one time, and as a courtesy the Township put the sign up. She asked about ordinances dealing with
property maintenance and rental properties and was told we are working on it,
but nothing has been adopted yet. A
rental licensing ordinance is being worked on.
LIST OF WORK NEEDED DONE - Mr. Duriancik reviewed the following list of work that
needs done in the Township, asking what are they going to do and what are they
not going to do?
MOWING:
The parks - Mr.
Filo has done a terrific job with those and hopefully he will continue to do
something with them.
The 2 sidewalks
coming off the bridge; the sidewalks along the outside edge of the corner lot
along Lincoln Street and Ist Street.
Paper alleys (Mr.
Duriancik thinks they should be vacated) should be cut with a scythe, not the
John Deere mower; he suggested maybe planting trees there; the settling pond
area; Community Building.
All Township
roads, boom mowing and hand trimming around signs and delineators .
Cemetery - needs
done by Memorial Day.
Garbage pickup at
the parks; he does not want the workers to have to leave a job site to pick up
garbage or to leave a job site because you are going to mow someplace.
Mr. Duriancik
would like to hire a seasonal worker; Mr. Shannon stated that Mr. Couslin will be
coming back.
BERMING:
When are we going
to start berming Kepple Hill? Mr.
Shannon stated that's where we should start first. However, Russell Standard is
coming in June, so maybe Locust should be done first and then go to Kepple
Hill. Mr. Retter said they dug too deep
when they graded on Locust, so that will have to be addressed. Therefore, Locust will be at the top of the
list. Mr. Retter asked if they were
doing back to the farmhouse and was told no, they are doing the paved
section. Mr. Duriancik clarified they
were going to concentrate on the hill on Locust; some of the deep washouts can
be filled with some of the #4 stone we are getting.
All the roads in
the Dime area need bermed, Laurel, HIckory, Chestnut, Slate Ext., etc.
Kiskimere needs
some work done, and Mr. Shannon stated the backhoe could probably be used
there.
Industrial Park
Road is in pretty good shape, except some areas have sod coming over the road.
North Vandergrift
has a little bit that needs done; there's a catch basin by Karen Polka's that
needs checked.
Outside the
Community Building needs bermed.
CROSSOVER
PIPES:
Elm Street needs
a pipe and catch basin, depending on the course of action they decide on; they
are waiting for a written opinion from the Solicitor, but his verbal opinion
was we put in what was there, and no further.
Mr. John Poproch is to come down and look at Elm to make some
suggestions.
Next year all of
the streets from Kepple down to Riverview need addressed; several driveway
pipes are needed. Some crossover pipes
have inlets but no outlets, while others have outlets but no inlets.
Kiskimere and
Dime need inspected to see what is needed.
DRAINAGE:
Kepple Avenue
from Filo's driveway down to the catch basin at Kruse's driveway needs
addressed; there was a water leak by Filo's that was fixed, but now there is
water coming up by what used to be Sappe's place. They will do a one call for design to see
what utilities are there. Knepshield and
Brestensky both are interested in bidding on the job. There may need to be an underdrain, maybe
leading to a solid pipe, and a new catch basin in Kruse's driveway.
Kiskimere Park
needs the drainage above the pavilion and around the playground addressed.
Kepple Hill Park
has a major drainage problem; there either needs to be a settling pond to catch
all the water or the swings need to be moved and the water piped along the
outside of the play area. Mr. Duriancik
added that the people on Penn Avenue are being flooded, so the only solution
may be a settling pond. Mr. Knepshield
and Mr. Braun both agree that would take care of the drainage, but you have to
be careful if you are altering the course of the water.
Mr. Duriancik
stated that Run Road is all marked out for underdrain, but the Municipal
Authority is replacing the water line there.
If they are putting a water line in, why can't the contractor put the
underdrain in at the same time. Bankson
Engineers are designing the project now, they can be contacted and told about
our project. Mrs. Ralston said when she
talked with Bankson, they were going to bid out the project right away so it
would be finished before our paving is to take place. Mrs. Ralston will call Bankson on Wednesday.
ROAD
SURFACE:
Kepple Hill Roads
- What are we going to do and when are we going to do it?
Locust Road - The
hill area will be seal coated in June.
We need to look at the road first as some ditches may need filled in,
and some berming done.
North Vandergrift
E. 2nd Street needs to be looked at to see if anything needs done there.
Kepple Avenue
(the back hill) needs looked at to see what repairs need done first.
REPAIRS:
Major repair would
be the back hill by the gas lines.
Minor repairs are
spot sealing (with buggy and wand) on Ash, Locust, Piper Hill, Maple, Laurel,
Birch, etc. Mrs. Milliman stated that another area that needs looked at is on
Johnson Street where the manhole is coming down by Hilty's. Mr. Duriancik said he knew where she was
talking about.
SUMMARY:
First thing, they
are going to get Locust ready to go.
They will remove
the teeth from the grader, and once they have the third person, they will start
grading.
Contact Bankson
Engineering about Run Road.
Do a one call for
a design from Kruse's driveway to Filo's driveway.
ADJOURNMENT
The
next regular monthly meeting will be held on June 19, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the
Community Building, North Vandergrift.
There
being no further questions or comments, Mr. Filo moved to adjourn at 8:26 pm
and Mr. Duriancik seconded it.
Respectfully
submitted,
Mary
E. Ralston Secretary-Treasurer