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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 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…

July 12, 2016

In Depth: Residents Protest Electric Rates, Council Proposes Resolution Amending Rates

Over 50 residents attended Monday’s council agenda meeting to protest a spike in electric bills from May to June, forcing the meeting to be moved from council chambers to the auditorium. Council had forewarning of citizen unrest and had already prepared a preliminary resolution adjusting electric rates. Ellwood City Power and Light The Ellwood City Borough has a municipal-operated electric company, Ellwood City’s Power and Light. The borough purchases power from the American Municipal Power Supply [AMP] at a current rate of $.08529 per kilowatt and resells it to Ellwood citizens for a profit. Funds are subsequently transferred from the…

July 12, 2016

Aaron Bernstine Statement on Passing of PA Budget

Today, Pennsylvania’s $31 billion state “budget” has become law. At a time when many Pennsylvania families have to do more with less, the Harrisburg politicians increased overall state spending to record levels by approving a 4.8% increase. No household would try to increase its spending by 4.8% without knowing where the additional money was coming from. Yet, Pennsylvania’s legislators have done just that — with taxpayer money, not their own. This budget proves once again how out of touch Harrisburg and career politicians are. They cannot balance this budget without raising taxes on the rest of us. Harrisburg politicians have increased…

July 8, 2016

Veterans’ Specialists to Visit Gibbons’ Office Next Week

ELLWOOD CITY, July 7 – To assist veterans and their families, state Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, today announced he will host state Department of Labor and Industry veterans’ specialists in his Ellwood City office. Gibbons said Stephanie Bingo and Ryan Paglia will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 13 at his Ellwood City office, located at 438 Line Ave., to lend help to veterans and their families. Bengoa of the American Legion Veterans Assistance Program will be in Gibbons’ office to assist veterans with understanding what benefits they have earned, filing appeals to existing claims, enrolling…

July 5, 2016

Gibbons Announces $296,188 in Grants for 10th Legislative District Improvements

HARRISBURG, July 1 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, said the Commonwealth Financing Authority today approved $296,188 in grants to improve local parks and trails. Gibbons said the projects include: $32,000 greenways, trails and recreation grant for Wampum Borough Park; $52,000 for Wampum Station Park; and $212,188 for Slippery Rock Trail. “These projects are vital parts of the economic development of our local communities and we must continue our successful local efforts to create more livable and workable downtown business districts. We’ve managed to get a lot done in terms of downtown revitalization over the past several years and I…

June 30, 2016

Notice of Public Hearing FY 2016 CDBG Program

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FY 2016 CDBG PROGRAM COUNTY OF LAWRENCE, ON BEHALF OF ELLWOOD CITY BOROUGH, SHENANGO TOWNSHIP AND UNION TOWNSHIP The County of Lawrence will conduct public hearings for the FY 2016 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) at the following times and locations:  Monday, July 11, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. at the Ellwood City Municipal Building; Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 8:00 A.M. at the Lawrence County Government Center, 1st Floor, Commissioners Meeting Room; Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 5:30 P.M. at the Shenango Township Municipal Building; Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 8:00 A.M. at the Union…

June 30, 2016

Mayor Presents Sixth Beautification Award

On Tuesday, Mayor Anthony J. Court awarded to Margaret and Bill Atkinson of Riverside Drive the sixth presentation of the 2016 Beautification Award and Gift Certificate. Their home is beautifully presented with a variety of colorful flowers and ground foliage, beautiful landscaping that they take great pride in and it shows in their home surroundings. The Atkinsons were honored to be selected and thanked the mayor for having such a program for the residents. Mayor Court believes that it is the residents who make Ellwood City what it is today. He is proud that the people of Ellwood City take…

June 29, 2016

Several Ellwood Property and Business Owners Oppose Proposed Zoning Ordinance

“Over the years, your business district has sprawled and lost purpose,” Mark Pelusio of Town Center Associates said at the beginning of a public hearing on a proposed zoning ordinance for the Ellwood City Borough. In brief, the proposed zoning would divide Ellwood’s core business district into four sub-districts with the intention of creating a pedestrian dominated area on Lawrence Avenue from Fourth to Eight Street consisting primarily of retail and dining establishments. Council worked on the new zoning with the aid of Town Center Associates [TCA], a consulting agency based in Beaver, and an urban development company, Environmental Planning…