Mar 10, 2016 3 min read

MONONGAHELA – Spring cleaning has begun in Monongahela, Councilman Alan Veliky announced at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Veliky said he and code enforcement officer Les Pemberton will be out looking for city properties that need to be cleaned.

“We want to clean up our properties. Residences with washer and dryers, refrigerators, derelict cars and other unsightly junk on city properties will be noted,” Veliky said. Warnings will be issued and if the properties are not cleaned up within 30 days, owners will be cited.

Councilman Ken Kulak said that he will be looking into ways to make crossing Main Street near Fifth Street safer. “I walk around town and it is near impossible to cross the street, the cars are traveling so fast,” he said.

Police Chief Brian Tempest said that issuing speeding tickets in the business district can be difficult. “We need a certain amount of distance following a speeding a vehicle before we can pull them over,” he explained. Kulak said he will be investigating options, such as a crosswalk, to make the area safer for pedestrians.

Susan Bowers, president of the Monongahela Area Historical Society, asked council for help and support for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of Monongahela in 2019.

“It is three years away but we need to start now to begin the planning of this celebration,” she said. “We would like the city’s support. We will need financial support and grant application assistance. We are asking council to think about putting financial assistance into the next budget.”

City Council passed a motion to offer support to the historical society. “This is important for our community. We offer support and want to be a part of this celebration,” said Councilman Thomas Caudill. Bowers said she is looking for churches and other civic organization to get involved to celebrate this milestone. ” This is a once I a lifetime event,” she added.

Caudill noted that the city is still working on the backyard chicken ordinance. “We had two vacancies on the planning commission and we have been researching ordinances from other boroughs, cities and townships. We are working on the ordinance,” Caudill said. He added that the city is researching what would be the best for the city.

Resident Tim Hruby addressed council on the issue of a dog off the leash that barks incessantly. Some mornings the barking begins at 6:15 a.m., he said.

“The dog is constantly in my yard. It has cornered me on my porch. I don’t want it to bite my wife or harm my dog,” he said.

Tempest told him to call 911 if the dog has been barking nonstop for 10 minutes. “We need a record of what is going on,” he said. “Once we have a record on the situation, we can deal with it, and then issue a citation.