PT to hire full-time tennis center director
McMURRAY – Peters Township Council will hire a full-time director for the township tennis center, a move officials hope will put the beleaguered facility on solid ground.
Michael Silvestri, township manager, said at Monday’s meeting that the tennis center has struggled since its bubble roof collapsed two years ago. In addition, the center has been plagued by the loss of key employees, including its tennis pros, which has led to a loss in revenue.
“It cannot operate with the loss of funds and people,” Silvestri said.
In the past, the tennis facility, which is owned by the township, was operated for six months out of the year – April through September – by the Peters Township Tennis Association. The township then operated the center for the remaining six months, said Silvestri, adding the township is taking over full-time operations at the center.
“We are trying to turn the tennis center around,” Silvestri said. “We need to be a lot more aggressive with lessons and clinics.”
In other matters, council approved a request by Arthur Schwotzer of McMurray to turn two lots totaling around 20 acres on Church Hill Road into three lots, one of which would be flag-shaped. Schwotzer has his home on one of the lots and plans to build a second home for a family member on another lot. The township planning commission approved Schwotzer’s plan.
Councilman Robert Lewis questioned Ed Zuk, the township planning director, about the unusual configuration of the Schwotzer lots.
“Mr. Schwotzer insisted on doing it this way,” Zuk said.
Council, with the exception of Lewis, approved Schwotzer’s plan.