(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The Beaver Falls City Council reunited for their April 11 meeting, and in doing so welcomed some new faces to the city.

One of those faces was Curt Friehs, who was announced as the new director of the Carnegie Free Library on 7th Avenue. Friehs, who most recently was working with a library in Evans City, was formally introduced by previous interim director Ray Gutowski. “He’s also very interested in community activities, and keeping the library involved in all of the activities we have here in town,” Gutowski stated. Friehs himself complimented the city for its “wonderful” people and businesses and “looks forward to working with Beaver Falls.”

Another new face to Beaver Falls is police officer Tyler Ursida, who was unanimously hired by council following submission for approval by Beaver Falls police chief David Johnson. Ursida, a West Mayfield native and graduate of Blackhawk High School, joins the Beaver Falls Department following a stint with the Beaver Borough Police Department. “I’m excited,” Ursida exclaimed; his start date with the Beaver Falls unit will be April 17.

Following a previous hold on the cementing of a new era of government in Beaver Falls, the council finally approved the Administrative Code & Operations for the city as a Home Rule municipality. Though the voters of the city approved the measure during the 2021 election to move to home rule charter, the final approval took place Tuesday night.

“To be quite honest,” spoke Mayor Kenya Johns, “it’s already been in effect for the city for a year and a half now. It’s just officially documented.”

Also officially documented was the approval of general fund expenditures at a total of $670,331.18, the agreement for security services for the Beaver Falls Car Cruise on June 10, and the resignation of Chris Quinn from the city’s Recreation Board–all three of which were unanimously approved by council.

Community Development leader Rochelle Burks spoke about the input of students in the Big Beaver Falls Area School District as to what the new name of Library Park should be. Burks stated that there were stops made at the High School and Central Elementary, and that a future trip to the Middle School is planned. Mayor Johns reiterated that all of the collected data, from students and citizens alike, will be narrowed down to five names as finalists. The citizens will then select the new name of Library Park–set to open in Summer 2023–from the five finalists.

The next scheduled Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for April 25 at 7:00 PM.