The
Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on June
18, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North
Vandergrift.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Gregory
Artman, Chairman
Scott Kifer, Member
Mary Ralston, Vice
Chairman (on phone) Jeanna Cerra, Secretary -
Treasurer
VISITORS: Lauren
Clark, Jay Start, Rod Artman, Cindy Reilly, Paul Duriancik, Rich Simpson
OTHERS PRESENT: Chief
Francis Willison
Mrs. Ralston called the
meeting to order at 7:00 pm, (Mr. Artman was running late) following the Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag. Copies of the Agenda and Minutes were given to
all attending and were posted along with the Treasurer’s Report and Bill
Payment List on the bulletin board for review. Public comments will be taken at the end
of the meeting.
The quotes were opened for the Boom
Mower. Only one quote was received from Stephenson’s Equipment for $105,000.00.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the quote for $105,000 from Stephenson’s
Equipment and to finance through 1st Equipment Finance, Mr. Kifer
seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mr. Kifer made a motion to adopt the
Minutes from May 19, 2025, a regular meeting. Artman seconded it and Mrs.
Ralston made it unanimous
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the
Treasurer's Report for May 2025. Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it
unanimous. Receipts for May were $271,909.35
and expenses were $56,975.10 leaving
a total balance of $544,856.53 (General Fund –$495,823.66; Capital Fund – $153,137.86;
State Fund - $178,237.12; Street Light Fund – $23,963.61)
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to
approve the Bill Payment List for May 16-June 12, 2025, Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it
unanimous. Each
Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to
himself or any member of his family.
CORRESPONDENCE
A thank you was sent from the
Vandergrift Library for the $500.00 donation allowing Parks Township residents
to join the library.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Report – Chief Francis
Willison read the police report for May 1-31, 2025
Mr. Artman announced that an
executive session was held on May 19, 2025, and as a result Francis Willison
was named chief of police for Parks Township effective June 1, 2025.
Maintenance Crew- The
crew has been cleaning ditches and roads from all the rain. Mr. Artman also
made a motion to buy a broom for the new mower from East Franklin Township for
$8000.00. Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES-
Parks
Committee Mrs. Ralston said Mr. Filo called her and asked if a streetlight or
floodlight could be put at the Kepple Hill Park. Mr. Artman said he would talk to Mr. Duda and
see what they can do about getting a pole.
Planning Commission- There was no
quorum for June’s meeting. Brigid Beatty is attending July’s meeting to discuss
the blighted properties.
OLD BUSINESS
Mrs. Ralston is waiting to talk with
Tom Murphy about the Solar Ordinance.
Mrs. Ralston said pipes will need to
be bought for the grant on Hickory Road, after the gas company is done with the
work they are doing, the supervisors will go back over Hickory to see how many
pipes need ordered and the final placement of them.
Mrs. Ralston rode around with the
engineers and discussed a grant for Locust. (below)
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Kifer made a motion to
advertise for a RFP for investors for the Police Pension, Mr. Artman seconded
it and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion
to appoint Gibson-Thomas as the township’s engineering firm. Mr. Artman
seconded it and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous. Mrs. Ralston said the new firm
will write the application for the Multi Modal grant with the county and submit
for the township, she will make sure when she meets with him again. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to have the
engineer submit an application for the TIP grant program for the bridge at the
Dime building also, Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mr. Artman said he will
meet with Peoples Gas at the Dime building to talk about the right of way.
Mr. Artman made a motion
to contract with Cintas and cancel with Unifirst for rugs at the Community
Building, Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion
to contract with Deer Park and cancel with Culligan for a water cooler at the
Community building, Mr. Artman seconded it, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms.
Reilly said the grass on the corner of Penn and River Roads is so high it’s a
hazard trying to pull out. Chief Willison said the homeowner was notified
today. Ms. Reilly also said the lilac bush at the end of West Penn is covering
the one-way sign, and the grass needs cut at the old school on Kepple Hill, you
cannot see going around the corners.
Mr.
Duriancik said the culvert at the top of Kepple Avenue needs delineators so the
crew can see it.
ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Monthly
Meeting will be held July 21, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North
Vandergrift.
There being no further questions
or comments, Mr. Artman moved to adjourn at 7:47 pm; Mr. Kifer seconded it, and
Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Jeanna
Cerra
Secretary-Treasurer