Parks Township
Board of Supervisors
June 19, 2017
The
Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on June
19, 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: Jeff
Retter, Joseph Seren, Jay Start, Art Walker, Jeff Shuster, Brian Couslin,
Kenneth Geist, Jennifer Geist, Brenda
Milliman, Rod Artman, Debbie Belles, Heidi Kifer, Tom Passarelli,
Sylvia Brown, Byron Brown, Beth Potoka, Gregg Artman, Jim Couslin
OTHERS PRESENT: Chief
Doug Ciuca, Parks Twp. 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.
Filo made a motion to adopt the Minutes of the May 15, 2017 regular monthly
meeting; Mr. Duriancik seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.
Mr.
Filo moved to accept the Treasurer's Report for May 2017 and Mr. Duriancik
seconded it. Receipts were $181,937.79
and expenditures were $82,185.77 leaving a total balance of $412,179.72
(General Fund - $149,806.84; Capital Funds - $31,708.68; Fire Escrow -
$13,956.94; State Fund - $190,905.44; and Street Light Fund - $25,801.82).
Mr.
Duriancik asked about the payment to Staples and Mrs. Ralston explained it was
for two filing cabinets, a new time clock for the Police Dept., and ink
cartridges for the Police printer and her office printer. He asked what the mileage rate was for 2017
and she told him .535 cents per mile.
Mr. Duriancik then made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for
May 11 thru June 14, 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 April 19, 2017 Minutes.
PTMA
sent a copy of their April 25, 2017 Minutes.
Bankson
Engineers sent a copy of the Clarion Avenue Water Line Project plans, which
were revised to correctly show where
underdrain would be installed along Run Road between Kepple Avenue and Clarion
Avenue.
The
Marine Corps Reserve sent information on the Alle-Kiski Toys for Tots Program;
they are looking for locations, churches, and businesses to work with them to
better serve the needy families within Armstrong County.
PTVFD
sent a letter reporting that the money received from the Township in 2016 was
used for repairs on the Tanker.
Kiski
Area School District sent information on the Kiski Area East Primary Free Lunch
Program for this summer.
STAFF REPORTS
Police
Report - Mrs. Ralston read the Police Report fort May 1 thru May 31, 2017.
Maintenance
Crew - Mr. Duriancik reported that they were short-handed the first week of
June; sometimes the equipment was down; doesn't know what is being done as we
jump from one thing to another. The
parks need mowed; they are so far behind.
They were going to hire a seasonal worker, but that was never done. Mr. Shannon agreed that we've been
short-handed and have been jumping around all over the place. Wednesday, June 21st at 9:00 am was set to
interview applicants for a seasonal mowing position.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES
Parks
Committee - Mrs. Debbie Belles reported that the free lunch program started
last week, but they can't compete with the one Kiski is having at the
Vandergrift school. Kittanning is being
a royal pain in the butt; you can't call your orders in for the next day
because the mail boxes are full; the driver was an hour late; one day they
received frozen lunches and were told to set them out for an hour to thaw. As for the parks, Kiskimere looks great
thanks to Mrs. Brenda Milliman, who did all the work. Mrs. Belles asked the Supervisors to look at
the swing set in North Vandergrift as it is not very stable, especially when
there are 3 kids on it. They are afraid
that the connections may come apart and they don't want an incident like
Vandergrift had. She also asked for a
copy of the flyer from the Marine Corps.
Mrs. Milliman said the elephant ears are taking over the Port-A-John and
paper retriever at Kiskimere; she asked
if they could be cut back. Mr. Duriancik
stated that the person that was doing the mowing was told to go up there and do
that. She added that the guys did a nice
job putting the mulch down. Mrs. Belles
thanked the fire department for hosing out the pavilions as that saved them a
ton of work. Mrs. Kifer reported that
they are in talks with the group doing the lunches at the school; it is too
late to join them this year but possibly next year they may be able to have hot
lunches at the pavilions. They will get
together probably in November, after all the data from this summer is
reviewed. The grass was mowed in Kepple
Hill but no trimming was done. She
thanked whoever put the tennis net up; there was a pole that fell down a few
months ago that has never been put back up; and weeds need cut around the
basketball court. She commented that the
park just needs some TLC.
Planning
Commission - Since there was no quorum and only two people showed up for the
meeting, they discussed the MS-4 Project and the Data Base for the
Floodplain. The next meeting will be on
July 10th at 6:00 pm.
OLD BUSINESS
Pump
Station Road Update - Mr. Shannon reported that he talked with Mr. Knepshield
about his proposal for Pump Station Road; it is ready but is on the computer
and his wife is away; she will print it out once she returns. He returned the map and plans for the
project. He said to talk with Senate
Engineering about an approved Quonset hut design that is half the price that
was previously discussed; they bring it in, set it down, bolt it together, line
it with stone, and pave right over top of it.
Also, Fouse Contracting has been working with this product and was going
to get some information for Mr. Knepshield.
MS-4
Program Compliance Update - Mrs. Ralston talked with Ms. Yon of Senate
Engineering and because we received a waiver for the pollution plan, we do not
have to worry about downspouts going into our stormwater sewers at this time. We also do not have to measure any sediment
going into PennDot's drops because of that waiver. However, we do have to take a photo of each
drop we have and date the picture so it can be included with our official
map. We do not have to have a special
public meeting because this is only our first year; the next time we have to
renew, there will have to be a public meeting.
Kepple
Hill Drainage Project Update - Mr. Duriancik reported that George's Plumbing
came with a camera but was unable to get past the terracotta pipe, which fits
inside the plastic. It appears as though
the problem is underneath the sewer line, so there's a good chance that when
that sewer line was put in, that pipe was damaged. So, you either go under the road or you take
the line over and across Bryan Street to the catch basin at the
apartments. He got some tablets to test
the water for chlorine, but it looks like gray water to him. Knepshield Excavating submitted a quote and
Brestensky Brothers are going to give a price.
There is also a plumbing outfit in Arnold that can go underneath the
road with an auger, and not damage the road.
They tabled the matter until the other quote is received.
Kepple
Hill Road Slide Repair - Letter to Peoples Gas - Mr. Duriancik explained that
the pipe is separated at the joint; is that separation causing the slide
problem or did the road movement cause the pipe separation? Water is going into that inlet but the same
amount of water is not coming out. Mr.
Shannon asked if there was a catch basin there, and Mr. Duriancik told him no,
there is one of those troughs. Mr.
Shannon said everyone feels the problem is caused by water running under the
pipe; he feels that pipe needs blocked off or put a catch basin in and run that
water down the side of the road down to the next drop. Mr. Duriancik stated there is an underdrain
there that would be torn out, it runs from where the two gas lines are down to
the catch basin. Mr. Shannon said we
have a catch basin that nothing is running into and Mr. Duriancik said that is
the one going to the settling pond. Mr.
Duriancik stated we need to hear something from the gas company first; did they
abandon the second line; is it still in use?
A letter was sent to the gas company, but there has been no reply
yet. Mr. Duriancik added that on Hickory
Road and Laurel Road, they have put guide rail post in, hammered in with the
hoe, and it has not moved at all. Could
the same thing be done at the slide, he doesn't know. We need to wait to hear from Brestensky
Brothers and from the gas company. As
for seal coating the back hill, they need to berm both sides of the road at the
very bottom. What will they do when they
come to the gas lines, will they skip that area, it would be about 50 feet. Mr. Shannon said by getting tar down into
those cracks, you might stabilize it a little.
Mr. Duriancik said they used to get blocks of tar, heat it and pour it
into the cracks. Mr. Duriancik added
that he doesn't know where they are going to use all that bridge material from
Swank Construction. Mr. Shannon said
they are going to bust it up, or pulverize it.
Mr. Duriancik stated that you will have to be careful where you use that,
and all of the rebar will have to come out of there; he didn't agree with
bringing that out to the building, as much as was there, but you two guys
thought it was still okay, so be it then.
Roads
to be Sealed - E. 2nd St., Locust Paved, Locust Dirt, Kepple Hill Rd, W. Penn
Rd. - Mr. Shannon stated that at the last meeting they agreed to do the listed
roads; he talked with Mr. Steve Pollick
and he is going to give us a couple of weeks to get the roads
ready. Mr. Duriancik asked what they
were going to do, they have E. 2nd Street which they said they were going to
do; they have Locust paved which they said they were going to do; they have
Kepple Road they are going to do; they added West Penn; now what are they going
to do on Locust Dirt, are you just going to go over top of what is there? Mrs. Ralston said there is 2,930 feet from
the end of the paved. Mr. Shannon said
he talked with Steve Pollick and he said if they were going to do anything with
the dirt section, to put some gravel in there and try to crown it and put the
MC-70 over it and that would give you a base for whatever is done. Mr. Duriancik asked what particular part of
the dirt section and Mr. Shannon said the whole dirt part back by Jeff's
driveway. Mr. Duriancik said you can't
just lay this stuff over top of what's there; you got to grade it with those
teeth. Right now the road is lower than
the two berms and water just lays there; so unless you bring that road up and
crown it you're talking a lot of time.
Mr. Shannon said that's what Mr. Pollick was thinking about doing. Mr. Duriancik said he was told all this stuff
had to be done by Thursday. Mr. Shannon
said Pollick called today and said Gilpin was having trouble so he would give
us a couple of weeks and do Gilpin and us at the same time. Mrs. Ralston said she asked Steve Pollick if
MC-70 would penetrate because we have already used it once and he said as long
as it was MC-70 you could put MC-70 over it and it would soak in. Mr. Duriancik said Mr. John Poproch returned
his call and said you can or you cannot; it depends, it's not going to
penetrate like it would on dirt. Mr.
Shannon said it would take care of the dust problem too. Mrs. Ralston asked where the measurement of
2,930 feet went to and Mr. Duriancik said to the farmhouse driveway. Mr. Duriancik said he disagrees with the time
frame we have; you are either going to do it right or don't do it. Mr. Shannon asked how long it would take to
get it ready? Mr. Duriancik said the way
things are going he doesn't know how long things are going to take to get
done. Mr. Shannon said they will discuss
how far they are going to go with that.
Mr. Duriancik stated some people have put a catch basin in along the
road; some people have paved their driveway and the road; what are they doing
here, people do whatever they want to do.
You got to take control of your roads.
Mr. Shannon said he agrees with that 100%. Mr. Duriancik said once it's done, what do
you do about it? Mr. Shannon answered
you just have to do whatever has to be done; if you are going to do the street,
you do the street.
NEW BUSINESS
Adopt
Stormwater Management Ordinance - Mr. Shannon said he doesn't know who is going
to enforce it, but the State mandates they adopt it; when it comes time to
enforce it they will have to hire somebody to interpret it. Mr.
Duriancik said so we are going to pass this and then figure out how to enforce
it. Mr. Shannon said that was exactly
right. He then made a motion to adopt
the Ordinance and Mr. Duriancik seconded it.
Mr. Filo made the vote unanimous.
Comcast
Franchise Agreement - Comcast sent a notice that the renewal period for our
Franchise Agreement under Section 626 is now open, and they request the start
of renewal proceedings; to preserve their statutory rights, this letter is
their official notice invoking that provision and fully reserves its renewal
and extension right under the Franchise.
Solicitor Favero did the last agreement, which promised free internet;
however, that was free internet for a residential account and could not be
utilized by anyone in the Township.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms.
Brenda Milliman asked about the drainage problem at her house; she has not seen
anyone up there. Mr. Shannon said he
knows she has a problem, but there are many problems in the Township. Ms. Milliman said there is a difference
between a berm and a water problem; a berm can be done any day, when her house falls
over the hill and they are responsible for it, then they will talk but they
won't be talking to her. Mr. Shannon
asked Mr. Duriancik if he had looked at it and he answered he knew where she was talking about. Johnson, part of Mary and Krupper should be
paved and when that is done there should be a curb put over there. Mr. Shannon said they did that before. Ms. Milliman said it didn't work, there are
two catch basins on the opposite side of the road and the water runs right by
it. The water does not run into it. Ms. Milliman said the issue was never
addressed on the church side, only on her side.
The water runs from the spring by the church down and across the road,
so a pipe is needed to run the water to the catch basin. Something needs done to keep the water from
crossing the road. Mr. Shannon said they
will take a look at it, maybe on Wednesday.
Mr.
Byron Brown, Ms. Silvia Brown, and Ms. Beth Potoka requested permission to pass
a petition throughout the Township to have the Vandergrift Bridge renamed the
Rudy Minarcin Bridge. PennDot told them
they would have to circulate a petition and get 10% of the voters to sign, then
have approval from Vandergrift Borough and Parks Township. Vandergrift has already given their
approval. The Board had no objection, so
Mr. Shannon told them to bring the signed petition in and the Board would be
happy to approve it and send a letter to PennDot.
Mr.
Tom Passarelli asked about Bee Street and was told it won't be done this year
because of funding.
Mr.
Rodney Artman asked about the hill from Upper Mateer Road to his driveway. Mr. Shannon said it was in our plans but
loggers are coming in and they have decided to wait until after the logging is
finished to see what damage might be done.
Mr.
Jeff Shuster asked if Locust will be sealed before winter. Mr. Shannon said probably within the next
couple of weeks.
ADJOURNMENT
The
next regular monthly meeting will be held on July 17, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the
Community Building, North Vandergrift.
There
being no further questions or comments, Mr. Duriancik moved to adjourn at 7:58
pm and Mr. Filo seconded it.
Respectfully
submitted,
Mary
E. Ralston Secretary-Treasurer