Category: West Kittanning Borough

New LED Sign Coming in West Kittanning Despite Opposition

West Kittanning Borough Council President Cliff Neal points out in a chalk sketch at the monthly meeting last night where an LED sign is to replace an existing billboard. The sign would be placed above eye-level of a new traffic signal at the Route 268/1038 intersection, which concerned Neal and other council members and residents.

by Jonathan Weaver

    Local motorists will see a new splash of color as they drive through West Kittanning Borough later this year.

   Oliver Real Estate is continuing their efforts to replace one of three large billboards atop a hillside near Northern Avenue with a light-emitting diode, or LED, sign.

    The billboards are eye-catching to drivers driving up or down the Route 268 hill to Wal-Mart or straight past Theresa’s Royale Allegheny Restaurant.

   Although the sign replacement was first-discussed among Borough Council in September 2011, council members did enact a billboard ordinance earlier this year to restrict such advertising. However, since the billboards existed before the ordinance, and since the highway is controlled by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the new billboard will be ‘grandfathered’ in.

    Though, West Kittanning isn’t too happy about it.

    A representative from Oliver Real Estate in Kittanning was at the borough council meeting last night to answer questions from Borough Council and public residents about the replacement – or to listen to complaints.

   Council President Cliff Neal was concerned with driver safety even after the Route 268/1038 intersection redesign is complete this summer.

    “My concern is, a lit billboard at the bottom of the hill – especially now that we’re going to have a stoplight down there – I’m thinking about it distracting the drivers coming,” Neal said.

    Though, after discussion with Solicitor Chase McClister, Borough Council does not have control whether Oliver displays the sign.

   “It’s a hazard to drivers. I don’t want someone going down the road and to wreck over there and say ‘Well, West Kittanning Borough approved it’ which we didn’t,” Neal said. “We can’t stop it, but I don’t approve of it being there because of the safety factor.”

   However, Neal said drivers might be getting accustomed to such LED billboards, such as one at Mel’s Pizzeria in West Kittanning or one at Allegheny Real Estate in Kittanning Borough.

   The signs – including two 12-foot by 40-foot billboards currently advertising Bradigans and ACMH – are lit until midnight now, but will be constantly illuminated when the new sign is installed, said Councilwoman Paula Henry, who was concerned for residents of the Ruffner Plan.

   “It’s not going to be a constant light like it is now; it’s going to be coming and going and flashing…and if somebody wakes up in the middle of the night a lot, it can distract them (from) getting back to sleep. That’s my concern, because of the citizens that live across the highway,” Henry said.

   The real estate representative disagreed.

    “The lighting should be nothing more than what is already there,” the representative said. He added it would be a dimmer ‘blue’ instead of a bright ‘white’ color light.

    Jim Sobiski of Southern Avenue also was opposed to the new installation.

   “The residents don’t want it. It kinda distracts from the area as far as I’m concerned,” Sobiski said.

    Though real estate officials are still discussing which of the two larger signs will be replaced, it is expected to be about the same size.

    “Even though I’m opposed to it, I’m glad he brought it to our attention,” Neal said.

  Michael Hawley of Butler Road requested borough council enact an ‘open container’ ordinance after litter from alcoholic beverages has been thrown on his property. A state law prohibiting such substances was altered earlier this year, although municipalities – such as State College, Pa. – have such laws against it. State College’s ordinance prohibits adults to have open containers of alcohol along roadways, sidewalks, alleys or in parks.

   Mayor Bernie Bowser, Jr. said police officers have received complaints about such littering and other crimes and are continuing to investigate.

    It was reported in February that one such establishment has been warned of Liquior Control Board violations.

    A roll-call vote is expected this summer on residents’ request to contract police assistance through a neighboring municipality. Borough residents voted in November 2011 for Council to consider the partnership in hopes of improved police enforcement, though no agreement has been made thus far.

The signs in West Kittanning, currently only lit until midnight, will be replaced with LED electronic signs.

categories West Kittanning Borough | May 2, 2012 | comments Comments (7)

West Kittanning Stands Ground Against Police Contract

West Kittanning Resident Jeanne Englert was one resident who asked Borough Council last night why negotiations with a neighboring municipality to increase police coverage - the intention of a majority of residents expressed through a November referendum - have stalled.

by Jonathan Weaver

The Primary Election is less than three weeks away, but residents in West Kittanning Borough can’t forget about the last voting cycle.

In November 2011, approximately 250 voters – or 65 percent of the population in West Kittanning Borough – voted in a non-binding referendum to contract with a neighboring municipality for police coverage.

But, since the issue was addressed in December, little action has been taken.

Council President Cliff Neal confirmed it has been months since council members have had discussions with Kittanning Borough or other municipalities – much to the chagrin of residents.

Jeanne Englert of Bluff Street said reports of Pennsylvania State Police cuts in the future and ongoing drug problems make this a top priority.

“This situation is not about power – it’s about making good financial decisions. This is about protecting this Borough and our residents,” Englert said.

Neal acknowledged police protection was spotty in the past, but was encouraged by recent police reports from part-time officers Chris Airgood and Robert Gahagan.

“We were in a very rough spot – I’ll admit that. We had no police officers, then one, then two,” Neal said. “I think we’re at a good place, and the police reports are pointing that out.”

During the month of March, officers gave out 14 citations and seven written warnings – mostly to motorists.

In his opinion, Neal said he thought a handful of West Kittanning residents persuaded others to vote ‘yes’ on the ballot.

New Auditor Bob Venesky of Arthur Street refuted that.

“Those people went into that voting pool and made up their own mind – we didn’t hold their hand and say ‘vote for this,’” Venesky said.

He suggested Council put a binding referendum on the ballot to get accurate results.

Neal predicted the issue will be an issue for many meetings to come.

“It’s an irresistible force meeting an immovable object – and I can’t see that changing,” Neal said.

Council hopes plans to build a new Borough building on property owned by the West Kittanning Fire Department can be solidified in the next 9o days. The current Borough offices - the former West Kittanning Elementary School - is expected to be demolished.

However, Council is rapidly progressing on plans for their new Borough building. A new four-person committee was formed – led by Councilman Ken Trudgen – and will communicate with Senate Engineering to solidify drawings and monitor land negotiation with the West Kittanning Fire Department during the next three months.

The structure will be built on the current softball practice field in the playground closest to Residential Avenue using a modified version of drawings drawn four years ago. The free-standing building is also to include a garage for the police cruiser.

The new structure would enhance the fire department and residential property, according to Council Vice-President and Fire Chief Bernie Bowser, Sr. He said the current Borough building – built in 1929 as the West Kittanning Elementary School – is aging and agreed it should be demolished.

“It’s like the body – it ages – and this building has aged with it,” Bowser, Sr. said.

Cost estimates are dependent on updated specifications.

The meeting was adjourned until 6:30PM April 17, at which time auditors will meet with Borough Council about the 2011 report. The meeting – which will be at the Borough building – will be public, but Neal said all concerns with the audit would be addressed during an executive session.

Council also unanimously reaffirmed a motion to not accept pair of new street lights on Butler Road at the Route 268/1038 intersection until two disability-accessible crossings are implemented. Bowser, Sr. said a PennDOT official spoke to him about possibly excluding the crossings from ongoing construction efforts.

“We have to protect the integrity of this municipality, plus our citizens,” Bowser, Sr. said. “The foot traffic has as much right-of-way as the vehicle traffic.”

Three phases of work will plague drivers of that intersection during the month of April.

categories West Kittanning Borough | April 4, 2012 | comments Comments (9)