May 1, 2018 3 min read

MONESSEN – Tempers flared at Thursday night’s Monessen City Council meeting when a resident accused officials of failing to address problems with the city’s sewage infrastructure.

“I attended an infrastructure meeting last month here in the city, and there are many problems. There are landslides, two waterfalls and a sinkhole,” said resident Linda Lacey. “That sinkhole is getting bigger by the minute. It is a danger to residents and small pets. I want to know what you all are doing with my $12 surcharge paid on my sewage bill. I will call the (state Department of Environmental Protection) and get them down here, if it isn’t fixed.”

She said the hole, which is in a backyard at 10th Street and McMahon Avenue, is getting bigger by the day.

“It is eight feet wide, and about 20 feet deep. The plywood that was on top has now fallen in. What are you doing about it?” Lacey asked.

Not waiting for an answer, Lacey went on to claim council doesn’t care about residents living in the Westgate area of the city.

Mayor Matt Shorraw banged the gavel several times and asked Lacey to sit down.

Residents in the audience were yelling at her, and Councilman David Feehan raised his voice and told her she needed to sit down. Later in the meeting, Feehan apologized for raising his voice. He said if residents went to discuss concerns in a civilized manner, something can get done, but nothing is accomplished by yelling and throwing out accusations.

Council approved a motion to file an application for grant/loan funding for the sewer rehabilitation project from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Program, and authorized Westmoreland Engineering Co. to prepare the necessary plans and specifications.

Councilman Ron Chiaravalle said the surcharge of $12 had been increased from a $7 surcharge that was for an older project. The additional $5 surcharge is being held in an interest-bearing account, which will be used for the sewer repairs.

“We have a sewer system that is failing. It is more than 100 years old. This project will be done in phases. While we apply for funding, we will fix emergency areas such as the sinkhole.” Chiaravalle said, adding the problem is the old sewer lines are clay and are collapsing.

Chiaravalle said the sinkhole Lacey addressed is an emergency and will be fixed as soon as possible. City workers were at the site as soon as they were notified, and he said the city cordoned it off and is working to solve the problem.

In other action, council approved an ordinance for the creation of a Shade Tree Commission that will create cityscapes through the planting of trees. In addition to the creation of the commission, the city will apply for grant funding from the 2019 TreeVitalize Program.

Council also approved participation in the Commonwealth Purchasing Card Program through COSTARS. With the use of the purchasing card, the city will receive a one percent rebate on each purchase. There will be one authorized user, and two signatures will be required on each invoice.