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July 21, 2016

Midland MA Receives $7.6 Million in State Financing

A major water project to eliminate a costly burden on Midland Borough water customers will receive $7,556,690 in state funding, according to Senator Elder Vogel (R-47). The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Midland was awarded a $4,050,800 grant and a $3,549,200 low-interest loan to construct its own raw water intake system to eliminate the need to purchase it from Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI). “I was pleased to work with my colleague Representative Jim Marshall in support of this financing. The current situation is unmanageable.” “That makes this PENNVEST financing essential for Midland,” Senator Vogel continued. “The Municipal Authority and…

July 20, 2016

Residents, Council Set Up Town Hall to Further Discuss Electric Department

“Many of you are here because you want to have freedom of choice,” borough solicitor Ed Leymarie told a crowd of over 100 visitors at Monday’s council meeting. “But the Pennsylvania government took away that choice.” Leymarie was referring to a state law allowing municipalities with government electric departments to require residents to purchase power from them. Monday’s crowd stemmed from a Facebook group, “Standing Up to Ellwood Electric,” with over 1,000 members. At the agenda meeting on July 11, over 50 residents showed up to protest electric rates and customer service policies at the Ellwood Electric Department. This in…

July 19, 2016

Zoning and Pandering: Council Approves New Zoning Ordinance

Following a length visitor portion concerning the Ellwood Electric Department, the Ellwood City Borough Council proceeded with Monday’s agenda. On that agenda was an amendment to the zoning ordinance dividing the business district into four sections. Council passed the new zoning in a 6-1 vote. At a public hearing on June 27, several business owners and realtors opposed the zoning ordinance. The passed ordinance was created by council over a several year period in conjunction with Town Center Associates, a downtown consulting agency. The vote was not without discussion. Council member Judi Dici, who took office in January, was not…

July 19, 2016

Borough Council July Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the July council meeting brief: Visitors Over 100 visitors attended the meeting seeking a dialogue with borough officials regarding the electric bill. Visitor Rob Brough requested a town hall meeting so the borough can fully explain the Ellwood Electric Department as well as take steps toward solutions regarding customer service and high electric bills. Council President Connie MacDonald set a date of Monday, Aug. 1. This was a continuation of last Monday’s meeting where over 50 residents attended. Awards/Recognitions Council commended the Ellwood City girls softball team for winning their Class AA section,…

July 18, 2016

Council, Residents Divided Over Electric Department

Last Monday’s council meeting highlighted a number of potential issues in the Ellwood City Borough Electric Department, namely customer service concerns and the advantages of private utilities over a municipal-owned utility service. As explained in a previous article, Ellwood City Borough has its own Electric Department, which belongs to a consortium of municipalities called American Municipal Power (AMP). The borough uses a consulting group, Utility Engineers, for its purchasing agreements, and in 2015 entered a five-year contract with an electric provider. The borough purchases electricity at a yearly rate of $.08529 per kilowatt (kWh). In turn, it sells electricity to…

July 18, 2016

Ellwood City Area Public Library Activities for Week of 7-18-2016

Activities taking place at the Ellwood City Area Public Library include the following: Monday, July 18, at 10:00 a.m. — “Coloring for Adults,” a weekly program that is free and open to the public. “Coloring for Adults” is a new concept in helping to reduce the stresses of everyday life. During the months of June and July, these sessions will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Mondays instead of Wednesdays because of the library’s Summer Reading Program activities. Call the library at 724-758-6458 for more information. Monday, July 18, at 1:30 p.m. – Afternoon Book Discussion Group for Adults. The…

July 15, 2016

Ellwood City Rotary Club Annual Scholarships

Ellwood City Rotary Club’s annual Scholarship Dinner was, as always, a special night for Rotarians, guests, scholarship recipients and their families. The yearly event, which took place May 19 at the Connoquenessing Country Club, was conducted by master of ceremonies and Scholarship Committee chair Mark Smith. Each year, our Club presents academic scholarships to worthy Lincoln and Riverside high school students. A 2016 Genevieve Blank Memorial Scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to Riverside High School senior Shanna Ridgley. The daughter of Don and Sheri Ridgley, Shanna will be attending the University of Pittsburgh, pursuing studies in Pre-Dental. Also receiving a…

July 15, 2016

Ellwood City Area Public Library Annual Book Sale

The Ellwood City Area Public Library will hold its annual book sale from October 3 through 8 this year, and is now accepting donations for the event. Books of all types will be accepted, both paperback and hardback. The sale generally features a large variety of fiction, non-fiction, history, sports, self-help, books on religion and spirituality, children’s books and much more. Also accepted are DVDs, audio books on CDs and music CDs. All books and donated items must be in good condition and may be taken to the library during regular business hours. The library will NOT accept any donations…

July 14, 2016

Senator Vogel’s Statement on Passage of the 2016-17 Budget

Yesterday, the Legislature approved the final portion of the balanced budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year. I am thankful that both sides were able to come together and avoid a repeat of last year’s prolonged budget impasse that negatively impacted both schools and nonprofit service providers that rely on stable state funding. Two weeks ago, I voted for the bipartisan spending compromise bill that boosted Pre-K-to-12 state funding for education to unprecedented levels, fully funded core functions of state government, and devoted vital resources to addressing the ever-increasing opioid addiction epidemic in Pennsylvania. We were able to negotiate with the…

July 14, 2016

Gibbons Votes ‘No’ to Tax Increases

HARRISBURG, July 13 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D- Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, said he voted against more than a half-dozen new and increased taxes proposed to fund the 2016-17 state budget. Gibbons previously voted against the unbalanced budget plan that increased total state spending by $1.6 billion, or 5.3 percent, and boosted the legislature’s funding by $18.6 million while failing to invest in economic development or adequately fund public education. “We need to get spending under control and deal with the cost drivers that are increasing our state budget before we continue to ask residents and businesses to pay more taxes,” Gibbons…