Municipal News

Last Updated on Saturday, 28 February 2015 03:06

By J.R. Brower

A resident who travels Justabout Road on a regular basis told Peters Township Council that a section of the roadway is hazardous. At their February 9 meeting, Ed Courtney of Springdale Road relayed to Council that there are drop-offs along the road as deep as 18 inches that have reached the stage of becoming quite treacherous.

Hidden by plowed snow, this is the location of dangerous drop-offs along Justabout Road near Sienna Trail.

“It is an accident waiting to happen,” said Courtney, who explained that if a motorist happened to just veer off the road slightly, the results could be devastating. The area on Justabout in question is on a relative straightaway, but during winter road conditions, driving lanes can become narrower and icier than usual.

This is not the first complaint Council has heard about the state-maintained roadway. Late last year it was brought to their attention that poor drainage in the area coupled with repeated re-paving of Justabout Road has resulted in stormwater inlets below the road’s surface. The depressions on the road itself have caused severe icing, and one of the sections of the road with poor drainage is said to have been exacerbated by runoff from a subdivision development nearby.

Council recommended that Township Manager Michael Silvestri write a letter to PennDOT asking for immediate attention to the hazardous conditions on Justabout Road.

In other business at their February 9 meeting, Peters Township Council:

Approved a $3,200 traffic calming study for Hays Road, after numerous complaints of speeding from residents. Temporary portable speed bumps have been used on and off in recent years along the road, where the speed limit is 25 miles per hour. Since the major portion of Hays Road is in Upper St. Clair, Silvestri said that Peters will ask Upper St. Clair Township to share in cost of implementation, if the speed calming recommendations are put into place.
Approved a 2015 permit for the Peters Township Farmers Market to operate on Wednesdays from May 20 to October 14. The market, sponsored by St. David Episcopal Church where it is held, sells locally grown produce and goods, and it began last year. Council approved the permit with the only stipulations that is no parking along McMurray and Hays Roads, and that there is no excessively loud music.
Approved the lease / purchase of a street sweeper for $230,000. The township will make yearly payments of $43,300 for five years to California First National Bank. After the 5-year lease period is up, the township can purchase the street sweeper for $1.
Learned of the resignation of long-time Parks and Recreation Board member Joe Maize. Fellow rec board member Buzz Gardner gave a report on the department’s activities including a sports concussion workshop that was held in November. Gardner also said that trail signs have been erected at Peters Lake Parks indicating warnings that the pathway to the dam from the parking area is often uneven and narrow.