Borough Council Awards Waste Collection Bid to Aiken Refuse

During May’s regular meeting of Ellwood City Borough Council, officials awarded the bid for the collection of Refuse, Recycling, and Yard Waste to Aiken Refuse (Billing by Borough option).

According to Borough Manager Jeff Foley, the move to Aiken will be a step in the right direction to save the residents money on waste collection. He also said that a good majority of Aiken’s employees live in Ellwood City, which is a nod to keeping business local.

Previously the Borough contracted with Valley Waste Service for a two-year agreement in April of 2024. That contract is set to expire on June 30, 2026, and included a four percent increase during the second year.

With Aiken, the rates will be as follows: $20.00/month for 96 gallon containers, $17.00/month for 35 gallon containers, and $30.00 for 10 bags & a 35 gallon recycling container. The contract will be a fixed rate from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029, with two-(1) year extensions available.

The bid from Valley Waste Service included a rate increase each year for all tiers of service.

Cost Comparison

What You Need to Know:

According to officials, Aiken plans to deliver containers the week before July 1st to ensure residents are prepared for the transition. For residents who currently have a Grey Valley Waste bin, it will be picked up the last week of June on your designated trash pickup day. Aiken will sell blue bags that will replace the yellow Valley Waste bags. Residents should use up any current yellow bags prior to July 1.

The green yard waste and blue recycling containers will still be picked up by Aiken. If a resident needs removal of yard waste or recycling, they can complete that purchase at the Ellwood Electric office. Once the Borough sells out all the current containers, residents will purchase them from Aiken directly.

All large tag item removal (ex: Beds, dressers ect.) will be purchased directly from Aiken. The resident will call Aiken and pay them directly and then they will add the item to the pickup route.

In other news:

Ellwood City Resident Dewey Minteer spoke to council during the public comment period about what he called “blight” at the former Walnut Ridge School location, at 600 Mount Vernon Dr, Ellwood City, which in 2022 became The Time Brewpub. In September of 2025 The Time Brewpub was rocked by an explosion. According to Minteer, not much has been done since then to clean up the rubble.

“All you see is the same thing you saw last year,” he said.

The eyesore left by the explosion, along with the deteriorating former Ellwood City Medical Center, will soon start to depreciate the value of the homes around them, he said.

“The financial value will continue to go down,” he said. “I hope Council will address the problem.”

Minteer said the city has mowed at the former medical center site but said that’s all he has seen in terms of any clean-up efforts.

“I was pleased to see that,” he said.

Borough Solicitor Ryan Long said he has been in touch with the owner of The Time Brewpub, and he does plan to raise the structure and clear out the existing debri, but that the process is stalled because of insurance.

“It’s an insurance issue,” Long said. “It has not been fully adjusted.”

Long said a complete cleanup of the site will be a significant undertaking financially for the former owner, one that will require the insurance proceeds.

Motions Passed:

• A motion to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting held 4/13/26 and the Regular Meeting held 4/20/26 as submitted.
• A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 5/15/26, in the amount of $425,007.64, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 5/15/26, in the amount of $316,562.16.
• A motion to approve the Departmental Reports.
• A motion to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, amending the Borough’s traffic ordinance establishing handicap parking on Park Avenue (north) from Short Street to a point 110′ west.
• A motion to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, amending the Borough’s zoning map reflecting the change of zoning classification from HM-I Hospital/Medical District to R-1(A Residential) District for the following properties:
  • Parcel ID #15-020600 – 7I 4 Pershing Street
  • Parcel ID #15-020700 – 732 Pershing Street
  • Parcel ID #15-027000 740 Pershing Street
  • Parcel ID #15-050500 – 748 Pershing Street
• A motion to approve the quote in the amount of $6,650 for the license plate camera readers (license renewal, maintenance & updates). This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
• A motion to approve the payment in the amount of $5,608 for the purchase of struts for extrication. This amount will be paid from the General Fund (reimbursed by 2026 State Grant proceeds).
• A motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) relative to law enforcement and the Ellwood City Area School District. The MOU establishes procedures to be followed when certain incidents occur on school property, at any school sponsored activity, or in a vehicle providing transportation to or from a school or school sponsored activity.
• A motion to approve the quote from PumpMan Pittsburgh in the amount of $7,984.29 + shipping to replace the lower belt for the sludge dewatering filter press at the wastewater treatment plant. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund.
• A motion to approve the request by Jesse Boland to use the women’s field at Stiefel Park on Aug 15 from 7a.m. to 11 p.m.
• A motion to approve the request by Stiefel Hockey to use the hockey rink in Stiefel Park from May I through October 30, Sundays (afternoons and evenings).
• A motion to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber to use the Community Plaza on the following dates for the summer concert series: June 6 & 27, July 25, Aug 8 & 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. It is further requested to suspend Part 10, Chapter 1066, subsection 1066.03 (a) of the Codified Ordinance Book pertaining to the prohibition of alcohol. This suspension only applies to participants of the “Summer Concert Series” event. Event insurance shall be purchased, naming the Borough of Ellwood City as an additional named insured. All necessary State and County permits shall be in place for this event.
• A motion to approve the request to hold a Community Yard Sale in Ewing Park on June 6 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• A motion to approve the proposal submitted by HUB International to provide the following insurance coverages: Package policy (property, equipment breakdown, inland marine, crime, general liability, auto, excess liability)(MRM Property & Liability Trust)$157,489, Professional Liability (public officials liability/employment practices liability)(Greenwich Insurance Co) $10,575, Police Professional Liability (Greenwich Insurance Co.) $8,840, Professional Liability (public officials) (ECVFD)(Richmond National) $2,983 and Canine Mortality (Glencar) $1,350. These amounts will be split between the General, Electric, and Sewage Funds.
• A motion to approve the following sewer tap:
  • David Fornataro, 139 James Drive (N. Sew Twp.), 1 tap, $1000