Municipal News

Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 July 2015 19:19

By Jill Brown

On July 9, 2015, residents took the podium to express worries over “disgraceful” properties at the Donora Council meeting.

One resident has a property, and someone else is paying the taxes. However, everyone on the deed is deceased, and the place has been allowed to let go completely. After much discussion, Council said, “We’ll take care of it. It’s going to come down.”Another resident at 1253 Melvin said, “It’s a disgrace. Groundhogs are over there.”A third resident said, “A man who lives in Australia has a property in town that is “falling down.”

Councilman Jason Menendez said, “We can clean it and put a lean on it.”
Donora resident and owner of “Junk and Disorderly” on 518 McKean Ave. Jim McDonough said, “First off, at the last meeting, I brought up the trimming of the trees—which looks very nice (in town). My dad and I were walking downtown, and I saw some property outside businesses I’m willing to paint. Since the bridge came down, it got a lot of publicity, and it’s not even on the docket anymore. Also, again, I’ll do whatever it takes to make our beloved town beautiful.”

When the issue turned to garbage, there were several complaints with the current sanitation company. One resident said, “When they pick up my garbage, I have several garbage cans missing.”Another resident said, “They tossed my garbage can; now it’s cracked. They need to respect other people’s property.”

A resident asked, “Can’t we throw them out, and get someone else?” to which Council replied, “We have a three-year contract with them.”
President of Council Karen Polkabla said, “We’re going to be meeting with Big’s (Sanitation), because we have several issues with them.”

Mayor Donald Pavelko continued the meeting by stating, “Superintendent Brice is not here today, because he is on a major drug bust. I would like to thank Jim McDonough.”
The mayor explained as well that, soon, the problem residences brought up by residents would have solutions. On August 11, there is going to be a big meeting including mayors and senators to discuss blighted properties in the area. They will also survey the areas.

The following news announcement was read, concluding the meeting for the evening:

The Monongahela Valley NAACP Unit will hold their 54th Annual Human Rights Banquet on Sat., September 19, 2015, 6 p.m. at the Willow Room in Belle Vernon. Keynote speaker will be Ulice Payne, Jr. who is the former president of the Milwaukee Brewers and a Donora native. For tickets and more info, call 724-684-8545.