(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
One week ago, the focus was on outdoor activities on a 60-degree day. By contrast, this week’s work session for the Beaver County Radio shifted to discussing about winter issues under 41-degree skies.
Parks & Recreation director Tony Caltury informed the Commissioners that a contract is in place with SportCourt for a new dek hockey rink to be built at the Brady’s Run outdoor complex, and that “we’re just waiting for the product to come in.” Caltury also announced that the annual Goose Hunts for youth hunters in coordination with the Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League will begin on Saturday, October 22 at Brady’s Run Park; there will be park restrictions throughout the hours of the event.
Solicitor Garen Fedeles provided an update on the landslide that occurred on Stone Quarry Road in Center Township; Fedeles stated that the recent attempts to contact Columbia Gas garnered no phone calls, and that once they are contacted a request for their intervention will be provided. Fedeles also provided an update on handicapped parking spaces on Market Street in Beaver: “Yesterday Tony Sadaka from Widmer (Construction) was here; he looked at it, said he’s going to take some measurements and get back to us to report on what needs to be done.”
Commissioner Jack Manning spoke about a recent conference held for the Chamber Government Affairs Committee meeting last Friday, where PennDOT District 11 executive director Cheryl Moon-Sirianni provided updates about current and future projects for Beaver County. “What most interested me is there’s a lot of bridge repair that’s gonna take place,” Manning stated, noting that among the bridges acknowledged in PennDOT’s plans include the Monaca-Rochester Bridge and the Frankfort Road Bridge.
A more immediate concern that developed at the conference, however, was the revelation of Beaver County’s lack of CDL drivers heading into the winter: “District 11, which Beaver County is in, is the worst district in the state for the shortage of CDL drivers and mechanics,” Manning added, “and the problem that it may present when snow comes, and we’re waiting for the roads to be plowed, is significant. They just don’t have the drivers.”
The next Commissioners’ work session is set to be held on October 26 at 10:00 AM.