Conway NEWS
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OCTOBER 9th - 15th, 2011 is NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
FIRE CHIEF BOBBY CHARLOVICH of the Conway Fire Department recommends that during National Fire Prevention Week, residents should:
• Change the batteries in your smoke detectors.
• Have a fire drill at home with your family.
• Decide on a meeting place outside to use in case of a fire.
• Go through your home to look for and correct potential hazards to prevent fires.
Click Here for More Information
Last Updated 10/11/2011 @ 5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONWAY'S FIRST JUNIOR COUNCIL PERSON TAKES OFFICE
Freedom High School Senior, AARON FISHER was sworn in as Conway Borough's first Junior Council Person at the beginning of the September 21, 2011 Council Meeting. Though not a voting member of council, Aaron will participate in the meetings and will take the lead on several projects.
Council created the Jr. Councilperson program in 2010 with the objective to educate and involve the youth of the Borough in the local government. There remains an open position for a High School Junior to serve a 2-year term. Interested students should submit an application to any council member, or the borough office.
Last Updated 10/11/2011 @ 5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2011 CURBSIDE LEAF COLLECTION
WEATHER PERMITTING
Tuesday & Wednesday, October 18th & 19th thru December 13th & 14th
Tuesdays – Downtown
Wednesdays – Uptown
**Residents are asked to rake loose leaves to the road (not the alleys) on your designated day. Leaves will NOT be picked up if garbage and/or sticks are mixed in with the leaves, or if the leaves are wet.
Leaves may also be placed in paper lawn bags and placed at the curb on pickup days. Bags are available for purchase at the Borough Office, or many stores.
Last Updated 10/11/2011 @ 5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2011 CONWAY ROAD PROGRAM UPDATE
At the May 4th meeting, Council awarded the 2011 Road Program contract to Victor Paving & Construction, Inc. The total amount of the contract is $101,263.55.
Council originally had planned for the paving work to be completed over the summer, however, the road work was delayed by several sewer line replacement and repair projects related to the current overflow situation at the Conway Sewage Treatment Plant that needed to be completed before the paving could be done.
The following roads were paved the first week of October:
• 2nd Avenue (11th Street to 9th Street)
• 9th Street (2nd Avenue to 4th Avenue)
• 13th Street (3rd Avenue to 5th Avenue)
• Riverview Avenue - including widening by 4 feet (13th Street to Highland Avenue)
Last Updated 10/11/2011 @ 5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SNOW REMOVAL REMINDER
A friendly reminder to all Conway Borough Residents: In order for us to benefit as a walkable community, we ask all residents to please shovel their sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall, so that people may walk safely thoughout the Borough.
Ordinance #346 supports this request that the Owner of every property abutting any sidewalks in the Borough are required to remove snow or ice within 24 hours after the snowfall and shall keep them open and unobstructed at all times to the public. Additionally, Section 104-7 of the Ordinance prohibits placing or piling of snow on the public streets.
To help the Public Works Department during the snow plowing process, we ask that residents try not to park on the streets if they have parking available elsewhere, so that the department can plow the streets more efficiently and completely.
Your help with this is greatly appreciated!!
Last Updated 10/11/2011 @ 5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED -- POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Conway is looking for several civic-minded residents of any age, who would like to volunteer a little of their time to help make Conway even better than it already is..........
Anyone interested in joining the Conway Recreation Committee is asked to please contact Committee Chair Patty Then (or any member of the committee) as there are presently openings available on the committee. Click Here to view the Committee's webpage and for more information.
Conway Council is also accepting applications for the Conway Junior Council Person positions. If you are, or know a Freedom Area High School Junior or Senior who might be interested - we encourage you to complete or pass along the application and information. Click here for more information.
Last Updated 2/4/2011 @ 5:30 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________
Conway Adopts "NIXLE" Community Notification Service
Conway has recently launched a new Community Information Notification Service called “NIXLE” to improve communication with people who live, work, and visit our area.
The system provides a quick, efficient, and secure way to get neighborhood-level information out to community members who voluntarily subscribe to the system. Through NIXLE, Conway will be able to send text message (SMS) and e-mail alerts to all subscribers. Notifications can also be accessed online at NIXLE’s web site, www.nixle.com
Click Here for Additional Information and Instructions to Register
Last Updated 1/14/2011 @ 7:00 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________
Conway Police Department Recieves Donations for Good Work!!
In late December 2010, the Conway Police Department separtely received two letters from Norfolk Southern Railroad and Crow's Run Self Storage thanking the Conway Officers for the work and assistance that they've been providing. Accompanying each letter was a donation which will be applied to the Police Department's 2011 budget for training and equipment.
Last Updated 1/14/2011 @ 7:00 PM
_______________________________________________________________________________
Conway Council Approves 2011 Budget
At it's November 17, 2010 Regular Meeting - Council approved a tenative 2011 Budget. The budget was advertised for 30 days and Council, after hearing public comments, formally adopted the budget at it's regular meeting held on December 15, 2010.
Through the hard work of the Finance and Administration Committee, as well as the rest of Council, the 2011 Budget contains NO TAX Increase and NO Increase in Water or Sewer Rates while increasing the funding for the Conway Police and Fire Departments, and at the same time increases funds available for the repair of roads by 55% to $100,000 for 2011.
Click Here to view the actual budgets as adopted.
Last Updated 12/21/2010 @ 11:00 AM
_______________________________________________________________________________
Conway Mourns the Loss of a Young Resident
Abby Goodrich recently passed away following a long battle with cancer and leukemia. The Borough's condolences go out to Abby's Family.
Please Click Here for a Letter from Conway Mayor Debbie Giska-Rose
Last Updated 11/19/2010 @ 4:00 PM
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conway Borough - Junior Council Person Program
At it's August 4, 2010 Meeting, Council adopted a Resolution creating a Junior Council Person Program with the objective to educate and involve the youth of the Borough in the local government. This program is open to High School Juniors and Seniors who are residents of Conway Borough.
Please click here to see Council's Resolution and the Jr. Council Person Application. Two (2) students will be appointed in the Fall of 2010 with a new Junior appointed each summer / fall thereafter.
Last Updated 8/11/2010 @ 5:00 PM
___________________________________________________________________________________________
New Roof Installed on Conway Fire Station #2
Using a $ grant received from the State of PA - a new sloped roof was installed on Fire Station #2 this fall. The new roof replaes the orignal flat roof that had been leaking onto the fire trucks inside the building. The project also included installing new vinyl siding, doors, and outside lighting to match that of the newer banquet hall.
Below is a photo of the new roof being installed.
Last Updated 11/24/2010 @ 1:30 PM
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Conway Police Save Family From Fire
Conway Police saved four people and 2 dogs from a late night Christmas Eve fire at their home on North Second Avenue.
Click here to read the entire article as printed in the Beaver County Times
Last Updated 1/2/2009 @ 10:30 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
New Police Car
At the December 3, 2008 Meeting, Council voted to purchase a new 2009 Chevrolet Impala Unmarked Police Cruiser at a cost not to exceed $26,772.00. The car is being purchased to replace the 2000 Ford Crown Victoria which had broken down while responding to a call on Thanksgiving Day.
Council determined that due to the age and number of miles on the vehicle, as well as the extent of the repairs that were required that it was better to use surplus funds in the 2008 General Fund to purchase a new vehicle rather than paying to repair the existing car.
Last Updated 1/2/2009 @ 10:30 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
Grant Received for Poice Cruiser Equipment Upgrade
The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has recommended funding Conway's grant application in the amount of $8,000.00 to be used to purchase cameras to be installed in our Police Cruisers. These cameras will assist in the documentation of traffic stops that the police make.
Last Updated 1/2/2009 @ 10:30 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
Grant Received for Fire Department Roof
The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has recommended funding Conway's grant application in the amount of $88,894.00 to be used to construct a new roof on Fire Station #2 located at Foote and Gross Street.
The current flat roof that has been leaking for quite some time will be replaced with a sloped roof that will require less maintenance, and which will help to protect all of the fire trucks and equipment that are stored within the station.
Last Updated 1/2/2009 @ 10:30 PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conway Website Usage
In the 4 and a half months since the new Conway website was offically put into service on August 1st, through December 16, 2008, there have been a total of 4,335 hits to the website, an average of 963 hits per month. A total of 23,714 individual pages were viewed during these visits, an average of 5.5 pages per site visit.
Website usage has so far exceeded the level that was anticipated by the website committee, however, the structure of the site, as well as the extra bandwidth that was procured during the development process, is more than able to accomodate the higher levels of usage that we've been experiencing.
The website will continue to be updated and improved, and we welcome all suggestions for improvements and/or content for the site.
Click here or go to the Website Committee page to view the monthly usage reports.
Last Updated 1/2/2009 @ 10:30 PM
________________________________________________________________________________
Grant Received for Gratty Park Lighting
Duquense Light has awarded the Borough of Conway a grant in the amount of $5,000.00 to assist in the lighting of the new picnic pavilion, as well as area security lighting for the playground area at Ed Gratty Park.
The grant was awarded through the Duquense Light "Power of Light" Program, which was discovered and applied for by the council grants committee. Council wishes to express it's thanks to resident Kurt Helbig of Chaplin Street for his assistance in helping to secure this funding. We wish to thank Duquesne Light for their generous support of our community, which will be instrumental in allowing the borough to move forward with the lighting project.
Finally, we thank resident John Buerkle, Jr. of 8th Avenue who provided the design specifications for the pavilion and playground, and helped to secure a very favorable price quote from the manufacturer of the lights. The total amount quoted for the lighting fixtures is $5,116.00, so the Duquesne Light company grant will fund almost 100% of the project, requiring minimum expenditure of taxpayer dollars to provide a valuable, and more secure asset to the community. We expect the new lights to be installed by early Spring 2009.
**Please NOTE: Gratty Park will now be available to be rented for private events. See the Parks and Recreation page for more information.
Last Updated 12/7/2008 @ 10:00 PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Grant Received for Public Safety
With the increased traffic on 11th Street, Conway Borough began receiving complaints that 11th Street had become unsafe to cross. Police Chief Anthony P. Blum and State Representative Sean Ramaley met with representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on ways to increase the safety of Conway Borough's residents using 2nd and 3rd Avenues to cross 11th Street. PA DOT advised they had no funding available to improve the roadway with new crosswalks or signage.
The Borough's road crew had been repainting the cross walks several times a year to keep them visible. Conway Borough Road Department Supervisor, Brian Giles and road crew member Sheryl Bittel attended a highway safety demonstration and watched the installation of a new style of crosswalk that never needs maintenance. Brian and Sheryl passed the crosswalk idea along to Chief Blum and Rep. Ramaley.
Rep. Ramaley produced funding for the needed improvements, including new signage with the Borough receiving a check for $5,000.00 to cover the cost of the project. The work to install the new crosswalks should be completed in early Spring 2009.
Last Updated 12/7/2008 @ 10:00 PM
Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge
Pictured above (left to right): Conway Police Cheif Anthony Blum, Road Crew Member Sheryl Bittel, Road Crew Supervisor Brian Giles, and State Representative Sean Ramaley.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Freedom Road / Crow's Run Corridor Update
Click here to read the latest regarding the Freedom Road / Crow's Run Corridor upgrade.
Last Updated 12/16/2008 @ 9:30 PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Edward Gratty Park Vandalism Complaint
The Conway Police Department is investigating damage done to the park's new pavilion. The damage was discovered on Monday, August 11th in the afternoon during a regular police check of the park. Unknown actor or actors tossed large rocks from atop the jungle gym onto the roof of the pavilion, damaging the roof. The PD also found a large amount of rocks and pieces of concrete that were stacked onto the platform of the jungle gym. Damage was also found on several of the new picnic tables (see photos).
Please share the information and photos with your neighbors in the hope that someone can help with information in solving this crime.
Anyone with information should contact the Police Department at (724) 869-9530. All information will be kept confidential.
Last Updated 8/18/2008 @ 1:00 PM
Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge
_________________________________________________________________________________
Water Tank and Water Line Project
The new Water Tank was filled for the first time as of August 13th, 2008, and along with the new water lines and pump station that have been constructed, were officially put into service on Monday, August 18, 2008 at approximately 10:00AM.
The overall project replaced Conway's water tank, a pump station, and a significant number of water supply lines in the upper tier of the Conway water system.
The restoration of disturbed yards, driveways, sidewalks, and roads is now done, and just the final inspections and repair of any dificiencies that are found will need to be completed. Roads that were disturbed by the installation of the water lines have been repaired by the water line contrator to at least the condition that they were in prior to the work beginning.
Now that the new tank is in service, the adjoining old tank has been demolished. The entire site is being cleaned up and a new fence will be installed around the tank site.
Last Updated 9/18/2008 @ 2:15 PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2008 Road Program Update
At the June 19th meeting, Council awarded the 2008 Road Program contract to Russell Standard Corp. The total amount of the contract is $101,742.15, less $10,000.00 to be contributed by Herr Voss to assist in the repair of 16th Street for a total expense to the Borough of $91,742.15. Contracts were signed at the July 16th Council Meeting.
The following roads were paved the last week of September:
- Porter Street (North Gross Street to Birchwood Falls)
- 3rd Alley (11th to 12th Street)
- Catherine Drive (Center Avenue to the cul-de-sac)
- Coral Circle
- Miller Street (13th Street to Highland Avenue)
- 16th Street
**At the December 3, 2008 Council Meeting, the Borough Engineer reported that the final bill for the 2008 road work came in at $87,723.02 or $14,019.13 less than what had originally been estimated.
Last Updated 1/2/2009 @ 10:15 PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Roosevelt Street Grant
A grant for $50,000 to fund Phase I of the Roosevelt Street Water Line Replacement has been approved by the Beaver County Community Development Program, and will be included in the County's appication for Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for FY 2008.
Applications were submitted for both blocks of Roosevelt Street, (1) from 13th St. (Conway-Wallrose Rd) to Center Ave. and (2) from Center Ave. to the Conway / Economy Line, however approval was only received for the 1st block. Water line replacement work is expected to be done between 13th St. and Center Ave. in 2009. An application for a grant for water line replacement will be submitted next year for the 2nd block of Roosevelt St.
Road repair work on Roosevelt St. cannot be scheduled until after the water line work has been completed.
More details will be provided as the grant continues through the approval process.
Last Updated 9/18/2008 @ 2:25 PM
_________________________________________________________________________________
Park Renovations
Renovations at Gratty Park (South Gross Street) have been completed. The cement slab under the new pavillion has been laid, and the initial landscaping has been completed. New underground electical lines to the new pavilion, french drains around the structure, as well as drainage systems to eliminate the soggy conditions in the grassy area between the pavillion and the road have been installed.
Underground electrical lines are still to be installed on the middle (Pony League) field at John Lucaric Park at the same time that the work is being done at Gratty Park. This will service the new electronic scoreboard that is to be installed behind the left field fence of that field.
Last Updated 9/18/2008 @ 2:25 PM
_________________________________________________________________________________
New Conway Website
Welcome to the Conway Borough website! We developed this site to:
- Keep you informed with the activities of and within the Borough
- Provide you with information related to the Borough's functions, and
- Provide you with another venue to contact us to discuss your thoughts and ideas.
We hope you find this to be an effective tool and we look forward to your suggestions on how it can be improved to meet your needs! Please check back reguarly, as the site continues to grow and have more information available every week.
Conway Borough Council
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________