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Eat ‘n Park Granted Permission to Add Drive-Up Window
By Ken Askew
Earlier this year at the June 2010 meeting of Monongahela City Council, a resident of 3rd Avenue complained about dogs barking, loud music, and suspected drug trafficking at a neighbor’s house.
The August 11, 2010 meeting was kicked off by a different resident from 3rd Avenue asking for a status update of the issue. Police Chief Brian Tempest responded that his officers had visited the house, and gave the residents a final verbal warning about the disruptive activities—the next time, they will be cited. However, no complaint calls have been received since then.
Next in the Public Forum, a resident of the 1100 block of Chess Street asked about the status of a duplex at 1106-1108 Chess Street. The property is in a deteriorated condition, and was supposed to be demolished. Council replied that although the owner of the property has been before the Judge of Common Pleas Court six times and was fined $30K, the property was recently removed from the demolition list. However, Council voted unanimously to put the property back on the demolition list once again. If funds can be identified, the demolition should take place by the end of this year.
In other business:
- The Code Enforcement Office granted permission to the Eat ‘n Park restaurant on Main Street to add a drive-up window.
- A 5-year renewal of the Winter Snow Agreement [the Monongahela road crew plows state-owned roads in the City, for which the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) reimburses the cost] was approved. First year cost is $14,971, and will go up about 3% per year thereafter.
- Mayor Kepic asked the public to not let their dogs run loose, and to especially keep cats under control.
- The City received a $690 check from the Washington County District Attorney’s (DA) Office in appreciation for the Monongahela Police cooperation in drug busts and allowing the DA to park seized vehicles in a City garage.
- Resolution 8 was passed to allow the City Secretary to file on-line reports with PENNDOT.
- Council will continue to commemorate historical events by (1) erecting a plaque on Main Street about the film “One Extraordinary Street”--the story of Park Avenue, produced by a Monongahela native, (2) adding a plaque to the anchor from the USS Monongahela, which is in front of the fire department, and (3) adding an old school bell in the First Niagara Bank plaza.
- Council approved the establishment of an Assistant Code Enforcement Officer position. Tami Gido, the city Property Assessor, will receive those added duties for a compensation of $1K per year.
- This month’s property beautification award was bestowed upon the house at 709 4th Street.
- The City Solicitor and Councilwoman Williams worked together to negotiate a 5-year Marcellus Shale gas lease with Chesapeake Energy for City property. The agreement covers 12.9 acres located on 7 large lots and 21 to 28 smaller lots. The City will receive $300 per lot for small parcels, and $3,100 for lots over one acre, 18% royalty, plus a $35K “signing bonus”. The agreement was approved by Council.
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