(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The recent report released regarding the building permits obtained by each area of the county by the Planning & Redevelopment Office became a hotbed of conversation at the Commissioners’ weekly work session on Wednesday. The report said that neither Aliquippa nor South Heights had any building permits throughout all of 2018–in fact, the city of Aliquippa hasn’t had one submitted since 2012, and the borough of South Heights hasn’t had one since 2006.

Commissioner Sandie Egley pointed this out during the work session, and pointed out the loophole this creates for citizens of those areas and why she’s disgusted by it:

 

Solicitor Garen Fedeles responded to Commissioner Egley’s concerns by notifying the Board of Commissioners that there was prior communication with the top persons in those areas about rectifying the situation:

 

Meanwhile, Commissioner Egley also brought forth a request from the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce asking the Commissioners to send a letter of recommendation to Governor Tom Wolf asking that the Bruce Mansfield Plant in Shippingport stay in operation. However, Commissioner Tony Amadio rebutted the request–not because he opposes the power plant’s operation–but rather because actions already had been taken, and the future of the Mansfield Plant is no longer in their control:

 

The initial announcement of the closing of the Power Plant came in August of 2018.