February 07, 2010

DEP Recommends 'Boil Water' as Storm's Aftermath Eases

(News)

A mandatory water conservation notice for Pennsylvania-American Water Co. customers has now been lifted.

However, the state Department of Environmental Protection is urging homes and businesses connected to PAWC to boil water before drinking it until further notice.

Power outages caused by Friday and Saturday's heavy snowfall shut down a PAWC pumping station.

. . .

Although the water company is operating normally again, the service disruption may have caused bacteria to enter the lines, says Helen Humphreys, DEP spokeswoman.

The boil-water notice is a precautionary measure, she says, and DEP will review lab analysis from the affected systems to ensure the water is safe.

PAWC serves many communities in the Mon-Yough area. Homes connected to Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County in the city, Port Vue and White Oak were not affected.

However, some MAWC customers also lost water pressure when power failed at a pumping station in Murrysville. Those customers have also been advised to boil their drinking water before using it as a precautionary measure.

. . .

Power is being restored in many areas, a Duquesne Light spokesman said today. As of Sunday morning, 12,000 homes and businesses Allegheny County remained without service.

At the peak of local outages, 57,000 customers were in the dark. Hazardous road conditions were hampering efforts to restore electricity, the company said.

About six dozen lineworkers from outside Duquesne Light were brought into the county to help with the cleanup.

The company said the majority of customers should have power by 12 a.m. Monday, while all remaining outages should be cleared no later than Wednesday.

However, new outages are also occurring as snow-heavy tree limbs snap and break utility lines, Duquesne Light said. Mon-Yough area residents who are served by Duquesne Light and are still without power should call 1-888-393-7000.

. . .

Meanwhile, Port Authority of Allegheny County has restored limited bus service to a number of McKeesport-area routes, but many are running at erratic schedules due to road conditions, a spokesman said Sunday afternoon.

Mon-Yough routes operating limited schedules include:

• 46G Elizabeth (but buses are not serving Worthington Avenue or upper Clairton),


• 56C McKeesport via Lincoln Place (but buses are bypassing Hays),


• 61A East Pittsburgh-Wilkinsburg, 61B Braddock-Swissvale,


• 61C McKeesport via Homestead (this route is bypassing Mifflin Estates and Century Square),


• 67A Monroeville and


• 67F Trafford.

Riders attempting to use those buses should be prepared to make their way to a main road and to "flag down" drivers, because bus stop signs and shelters may be buried under snow, the authority said.

The transit agency is posting updates on its website.

. . .

Somewhat ironically, other disruptions in the Mon-Yough area include the closure of the skiing and snowtubing areas at Allegheny County's Boyce Park in Monroeville.

The ice-skating rink at South Park is also closed.

. . .

Observers for the National Weather Service said the official measurement of 11.4 inches of snow Friday, made at Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon Township, broke a record for that date set in 1899.

Another 9.7 inches fell Saturday, breaking another record for that date, set in 1911.

Locally, official weather spotters for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers measured 24 inches of snow on the ground Sunday morning at Elizabeth and 13 inches at Charleroi.

. . .

Winter is not done with southwestern Pennsylvania yet --- the NWS at Pittsburgh has issued a storm watch for Tuesday and Wednesday.

A storm system heading this way could bring another six inches of snow on those days, forecasters said.

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February 06, 2010

PAWC: Water Conservation 'Mandatory'

(News)

A power outage at a pumping station has forced Pennsylvania-American Water Company to issue a mandatory water conservation notice for all customers in Allegheny and Washington counties.

The company did not identify which pumping station is affected, but Penn-American draws water from the Monongahela River at Elrama and Becks Run.

Customers who are served by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County in the city, Port Vue, White Oak and other communities are not affected.

However, MAWC customers in parts of Murrysville are suffering low or no water pressure due to a power outage at a pumping station in the Sardis Road area, an authority spokesman said.

Penn-American service areas in the Mon-Yough region include Glassport, Liberty Borough, Lincoln Borough, Lincoln Place, Munhall and West Mifflin and many surrounding communities.

The order from Penn-American asks customers to refrain from using water "for showers, dishwashing, flushing, cooking or drinking until the issue is resolved."

The company said it will notify customers of service resumption through its website.

Heavy snowfall snapped tree limbs and power lines throughout Western Pennsylvania. About 85,000 customers were without power Saturday morning, according to Allegheny County officials.

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February 06, 2010

Snow Big Deal

(News)

Old-timers may question whether Friday night's wallop was as severe as the Thanksgiving "super-storm" of November 1950, the so-called "Storm of the Century" of March 1993, or even the blizzard of January 1977.

But there's no question that the Mon-Yough area took its fair share (and a little more) of a massive snowstorm that gripped the northeastern United States overnight.

As of 7 a.m. today, official National Weather Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spotters had measured nine inches of snow on the ground in Charleroi, 13 inches in Elizabeth, 14 inches in Braddock, and a whopping 22 inches in East McKeesport.

Forecasters said the region could pick up another two to four inches this afternoon. A winter storm warning remains in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday night.

City, Neighboring Towns Declare Emergency: McKeesport Mayor James Brewster has declared an emergency in the city. Other Mon-Yough communities have also declared emergencies, including the City of Clairton; the boroughs of Elizabeth, Glassport, Jefferson Hills, Lincoln, Munhall, West Elizabeth and White Oak; the municipality of Monroeville; and Elizabeth Township.

City residents who lack heat or electricity are being asked to go to the Palisades Ballroom, Fifth Avenue at Water Street, where a "warming station" has been opened.

Other warming stations are located at Central Volunteer Fire Department, 425 Scenery Dr., Elizabeth Township; West Mifflin Volunteer Fire Co. No. 3, 3722 Rodeo Drive; and Rainbow Volunteer Fire Co., 2916 Jacks Run Road, White Oak.

Water Conservation Urged: In addition, due to a power outage at one of its pumping stations, Pennsylvania-American Water Co. has asked all Mon-Yough area households on its system to conserve water until further notice.

Residents connected to the Penn-American system are asked not to take showers or run dishwashers and other water-using appliances until power is restored at the pumping station, a company spokesman said.

National Guard Mobilized: Gov. Ed Rendell this morning declared a statewide disaster emergency and mobilized the Pennsylvania Army National Guard to assist state troopers in responding to incidents.

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County are also under disaster emergencies.

The declarations allow local and county governments to waive bidding and contract procedures to procure emergency supplies or snow-removal assistance. It also allows municipalities to request financial assistance from the state or federal governments.

Power Off for 160,000: The quick, heavy snowfall --- more than an inch an hour at times --- brought down branches on top of power lines. More than 160,000 power outages have been reported across the state, with most of them in southwestern Pennsylvania, said a spokeswoman for the state Emergency Management Agency.

About 85,000 outages were reporting in Allegheny County alone, according to county officials.

While primary arteries are snow-covered but passable, most side streets are closed, with even four-wheel drive vehicles having difficulty, and state Department of Transportation officials have urged motorists to postpone any non-essential travel.

Falling temperatures could complicate the snow-removal process --- according to NWS meteorologists in Pittsburgh, temperatures will drop into the single digits overnight.

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February 04, 2010

City Switches Pension Plans; New Police Chief, Ass't. Take Oath

(News)

Pension plans for all city employees will be switched from Huntingdon Bank to Pittsburgh-based Hefren-Tillotson in a move officials hope will improve returns and lower costs.

At Wednesday's meeting, council by 6-0 vote approved transferring the defined-benefit retirement plans for police, firefighters and other personnel. Councilwoman Loretta Diggs was absent due to illness.

About 180 retirees are affected but should see no disruption in the distribution of their checks, City Administrator Dennis Pittman says.

. . .

Huntingdon had managed the funds since taking over Cleveland-based Sky Bank. City officials felt the pensions would be better served by using a full-time brokerage, Pittman says.

Seven firms submitted proposals to manage the pension plans. Mayor James Brewster, Controller Ray Malinchak, Solicitor J. Jason Elash, Pittman and representatives of the city's employee unions interviewed representatives of each plan before reaching a "unanimous consensus" to recommend Hefren-Tillotson, Pittman says.

"Not only was it a good interview process, we learned a lot, and I have to compliment everyone who participated," Malinchak says.

. . .

According to the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania, Hefren-Tillotson has an "A-plus" rating for resolving consumer differences.

The firm, founded in 1948, has 10,000 clients and manages investments worth more than $4 billion, according to a 2009 article in Pittsburgh Quarterly.

Aligned Partners Trust Co., also of Pittsburgh, will serve as trustee for the city's pension funds.

. . .

New Chief, Ass't Sworn In: In other business, about 50 family members and friends of the city's new chief and assistant chief of police came to council chambers last night to see them take their oaths of office.

Bryan Washowich, formerly chief of the detective bureau, has been named police chief, while 20-year city police veteran Tom Greene takes over as assistant chief. They replace Joe Pero and Al Tedesco, who both retired.

"We lost two outstanding public servants, but their opinions weighed heavily on our decision to hire these two men," Brewster says.

"We have talked many, many times in a last four weeks since Al left, and I feel very confident that B.J. and Tom will provide the leadership we need," he says.

Among the first tasks for the department's new command staff is creation of what the mayor described as a comprehensive, city-wide plan to address public safety concerns.

Details will likely be announced in March, Brewster says.

. . .

Salt Bins Ready: The city's salt bins are full in preparation for an expected winter storm this weekend, says Nick Shermenti, public works director.

Of 3,000 tons of salt allotted to the city, 2,200 tons have been used, much of during the last two weeks of December and first two weeks of January, he says.

"If we can get past this weekend, I think we'll be OK," Shermenti says.

The National Weather Service has predicted a total snow accumulation of six to 12 inches in the Mon-Yough area between 12 noon Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

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February 02, 2010

Lysle Blvd. Parking Garage Could Go on Block

(News)

A longtime Downtown eyesore could be demolished in the near future.

Council is expected to vote Wednesday night to transfer the four-and-a-half story Lysle Boulevard parking garage to the city's Redevelopment Authority.

The transfer --- discussed at a council work session Tuesday night --- would be the first step toward selling the site to a private developer, who city officials said would likely level the 440-space garage, built in 1959.

. . .

Located on a 1.4-acre lot between Tube Works Alley and Locust Street, the garage is assessed at $1.9 million, according to Allegheny County tax records.

But cars have not been allowed to use the structure since 1999, when falling chunks of concrete damaged several vehicles. At the time, former Mayor Joseph Bendel said the garage needed between $800,000 and $1.5 million in repairs to remain open to the public.

Some repairs were made to stablize the facility, and since then, the lower levels have been used for storage of construction equipment and boats from McKees Point Marina.

. . .

Citing confidentiality concerns, officials would not comment either on or off the record on possible buyers for the parking garage.

"Some of these investors will walk away if they think we're disclosing their business," Mayor James Brewster told council Tuesday night. "It is not a done deal, but I think (council) is going to be very pleased."

However, third parties unconnected with the city have told the Almanac that one potential buyer could be the Tribune-Review Publishing Co., parent company of the McKeesport Daily News and a string of suburban weeklies currently based in Monroeville.

. . .

In June 2008, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported that Tribune-Review Publishing was looking at McKeesport as the possible site for a satellite printing operation that would consolidate four older plants.

The Daily News' current printing plant, built in the 1930s, is located next to the Lysle parking garage. Squeezed between railroad tracks and Lysle Boulevard, it lacks a parking lot or any room to expand.

City officials Tuesday night would not speculate either publicly or privately on those rumors.

. . .

"There are actually several parties who are interested in it," Brewster said. "I can tell you I'm really excited about it, but when you're dealing with real estate matters, all of these things are confidential."

At least one councilman Tuesday night questioned whether the city should transfer any properties to the Redevelopment Authority without knowing who the eventual buyer will be.

"I'd like to see the caveats first," said Councilman Darryl Segina, who added he regrets approving the transfer of the Midtown Plaza Mall to Pittsburgh developer Barry Stein.

Although Stein demolished the Midtown parking deck over Fifth Avenue and renovated several storefronts, the rest of the redevelopment has stalled.

"When I voted for it, I didn't realize it was going to be a 25-year project," Segina said.

. . .

Any reuse of the Lysle Boulevard site would have to be approved by council, and possibly by the Zoning Hearing Board and the Planning Commission, city Administrator Dennis Pittman told councilors Tuesday night.

"The final disposition has to come back to council for its OK," he said. "You will get full disclosure at that time, and the opportunity (whether) to vote yes."

Council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the public safety building, 201 Lysle Blvd.

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January 30, 2010

Smith's Legacy Looms Large In Tiger Town

(Cartoons)

"With the drama behind them, it's time for McKeesport Area to do something it hasn't done in nearly three decades --- start the process of looking for a new head football coach ... athletic director Charley Kiss has set a Feb. 5 deadline for applications." (Mark Kaboly, Daily News)

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January 29, 2010

Book Country Eyes Expansion; Could Buy Precoat Property

(News)

Book Country Clearing House is eying the former site of Precoat Metals for a major expansion, Tube City Almanac has learned.

Book Country CEO Richard Roberts confirmed Thursday his company made an offer to Precoat and hopes to find out within the next two weeks if the bid has been accepted.

Book Country, which supplies remaindered books to retail stores all over the world, needs to add about 250,000 square feet, and the eight-acre Precoat site on Walnut Street in the 12th Ward would be ideal for its needs, Roberts says.

A Precoat spokeswoman has not responded to email or a phone message left by the Almanac at the company's headquarters in St. Louis.

Other sources say at least one other party besides Roberts is interested in the Precoat site.

. . .

"We saw a 20 percent increase in our wholesale business last year," says Roberts, who with his wife, Sandy, purchased Book Country in 2003. "Bargain books sell very, very well during a down economy."

Book Country currently occupies all of the former Potter-McCune Co. warehouse, which was used by Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank from the mid-1980s until it relocated to Duquesne in 2001.

But to service new clients in China, southern Africa and Europe, Roberts says, the company needs to grow again.

Rapid expansion forced Book Country last year to shut down a short-lived retail outlet in the front of the approximately 375,000 square foot warehouse, he says.

. . .

"Unfortunately, we had to close the store," Roberts says. "We needed the space."

The Precoat plant, previously operated by Enamel Products & Plating Co., closed in March 2009. Demolition of the structures began earlier this month.

According to City Administrator Dennis Pittman, Precoat is reportedly removing the buildings and their contents because of continued demand for scrap metals overseas, and to clear the property for resale.

. . .

But Pittman says that Precoat also has not ruled out returning to McKeesport if the economy --- and particularly new home construction --- recovers.

The company, which has seven other plants around the United States, plates steel for use in construction and building materials.

"They told us that facility was no longer working for them, and they needed to upgrade their equipment," Pittman says. "But they said they want to be back in this geographic area if they start over."

McKeesport is just three miles from U.S. Steel's Irvin Works, which produces flat-rolled steel coils of the type used in Precoat's products.

. . .

Book Country, which currently employs about 100 people, envisions constructing a new warehouse and distribution center on the Precoat property.

The company receives books from stores all over the country that have been returned to their publisher as "unsellable" because they've become damaged or out-of-date, or because they're simply not in demand.

It then repackages those books --- best-sellers, children's books, cookbooks, reference books and all kinds of works --- and resells them to discount stores and other retailers.

The Christy Park warehouse currently holds about 10 million books representing 35,000 titles, Roberts says.

. . .

If Book Country expands its facility in McKeesport, it will likely hire another 25 to 35 employees, he says.

When the Dish Network call center announced it was closing, KDKA talk-show host Marty Griffin reported rumors that it was unable to hire Mon-Yough residents because they were lazy or drug addicts.

But Roberts disputed that accusation, saying his company's work force is "the best asset we've got." Book Country has begun offering profit-sharing and other incentives to retain employees, he says.

"You could not find a better group of people anywhere," Roberts says. "I would put my workers up against anyone in terms of productivity."

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January 28, 2010

Briefly Noted: College Aid for MAHS Seniors Tops $40K

(Events, News)

College Aid for MAHS Seniors: More than $40,000 in scholarships, grants and awards is available to McKeesport Area High School seniors again this year, the Consortium for Public Education has announced.

In addition, several new scholarships are available this year. But the deadline for applications is fast approaching.

The scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of alumni, family members and friends, and other supporters in the Mon-Yough area, says Linda Croushore, president of the McKeesport High School Alumni and Friends Association.

The alumni association, now in its 23rd year, is a project of the Consortium for Public Education.

"These scholarships and awards have been underwritten by proud McKeesport alumni and others who want to extend a helping hand to today's students as they contemplate that next, important step in their educational careers," Croushore says.

"We want to stress that they are open to all seniors intent on pursuing post-secondary education, whether they are college-bound or headed to career or technical schools, business school, art school or culinary institute," she says.

All seniors have received flyers announcing the scholarships and grants at home and at the high school, a Consortium spokeswoman says.

New awards for 2010 include the:

• Bechtol Family Scholarship, providing one $500 award for a student who plans to pursue a teaching career;


• Zon Fleckenstein Memorial Scholarship, providing two $500 awards;


• Vern G. Sharbaugh Scholarship, providing $500 for a varsity football player who demonstrates excellent character, dedication and leadership; and the


• Lou Guarascio Memorial Award, providing $250 for a member of the marching band who plans to go on to post-secondary education.

In addition, The Garden Club of McKeesport Scholarship, providing $600, has returned after a one-year absence.

Deadline to apply for most awards is March 31. Applications can be found in the high school guidance office and library and online at the Consortium for Public Education's website.

To contact the alumni association, call The Consortium for Public Education, 410 Ninth St., Downtown, at (412) 678-9215, or email mhsalumni@tcfpe.org.

. . .

Kiwanis Club Slates Banquet: The Kiwanis Club of McKeesport-White Oak will hold its Valentine's Day Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Viking Lounge, 3413 Versailles Ave., Grandview.

Dinner will be served buffet-style and the cost is $30 per person. Reservations are required and must be received by Feb. 2.

To RSVP or get additional information, call Chris Del Signore at (412) 400-6559.

. . .

Penn State Sets Health Care ConEd: Penn State's campus in McKeesport will offer two courses to train health-care professionals in March.

From March 1 to 22, Greater Allegheny Campus will offer the required 120-hour nursing home administrator training program in the Frable Conference Center. All courses are approved by the state Board of Nursing Home Administration for individuals interested in receiving licensure. They may also meet continuing education requirements for other professionals.

Each individual course has also been approved for Pennsylvania State Nurses Association contact hours, a university spokeswoman said.

In addition, the program is approved for Trade Adjustment Assistance and Workforce Investment Act funding through PA CareerLink.

From March 12 through April 19, continuing education will hold personal care home administrator training. This is a 100-hour course approved by the state Department of Public Welfare to enable participants to become personal care home administrators.

The course also includes the required certification testing for those attending the training sessions. It will be offered in the Frable Conference Center.

This training program, as well as some additional modules, also is offered to current certified personal care home administrators and direct care workers to assist in fulfilling the annual requirement for 24 hours of training. Courses cover a variety of topics.

To register or get additional information, visit the university's website or call (412) 675-9051.

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