Budget, zoning are topics of PT council
McMURRAY – Peters Township Council will hold a public hearing Jan. 19 to remove mineral extraction overlay districts, which allows industrial zoning in residential areas.
On the surface, the topic of that hearing may not seem significant – but, if approved, it will add a layer of protection to residential areas that will not be as burdened by extra traffic and noise generated by trucks and natural gas operations if there is drilling in the township.
Following council’s meeting Monday, township manager Michael Silvestri said there are not any plans yet to drill in the township. Council will hold an executive session Jan. 5 to further discuss the zoning change before the public hearing two weeks later.
In other matters, council passed the $19.931 million township budget for 2015. For another year, the township’s real estate tax rate of 13 mills will remain unchanged. The assessed value of property in the township for 2015 is $342.823 million with one mill generating $336,696.
“Tax rates have been the same since 2011,” Silvestri said.
Added council President James Berquist, “A lot of effort went into the budget.”
Council also approved its 2015-2019 capital improvement program, which is designed to give both council and township residents some insight about potential financial needs in the next five years. Estimated capital costs listed in the five-year program total $16.64 million.
At the urging of Silvestri, council did agree to spend slightly more than $206,000 on a new street sweeper from Walsh Equipment Inc. of Prospect, Butler County. Silvestri said the township spends $13,000 annually on street sweeping, a service it has been contracting out for years. The machine, which comes with a warranty, will also be able to clean sewer catch basins. In the long run, owning a street sweeper will save the township money, he said.
Council also agreed to increase the salary range for various township positions by 1.5 percent, a move that keeps salaries in line with the Consumer Price Index. This move does not include union positions, Silvestri said.