Roundup: Canonsburg Road Project Stalled; Another to Begin Next Week

Here’s what you missed from Monday’s Council meeting:

• Washington County Redevelopment Authority representative Kerry Fox told council that bids for the reconstruction of two blocks of Franklin Avenue had exceeded the estimate. Just one bid—for $379,000— was received, a much steeper price than the expected $200,000. Fox said the project would be re-bid.

• Council expects to award a contract later this month for several road projects, including Park Drive from West Pitt to North Avenue, Church Way Extension and the 400 and 600 blocks of Duquesne Avenue.

• Work on the Crawford Street storm sewer improvement is expected to begin next week.

• Manager Terry Hazlett said that myriad items still remain at the former library location, which was housed on two floors of the borough building. He said he had written a letter to the library board requesting that the shelving, desks and debris be removed, but that Board President Susan Poore had requested more time so that the items could be auctioned off. Several members of council requested Hazlett ask the library board to move quickly so that renovation of the area could begin. The borough is planning to expand the police department and add office space on those two floors.

• At next week's meeting, council is also poised to approve two projects recommended by its planning commission—an office building addition and a parking lot for Aquatech, and a site plan for the Washington Community Federal Credit Union. The Aquatech expansion is expected to create 30 new jobs, according to Hazlett.

• Council also discussed having a special meeting to consider annual inspections of rental properties and other code enforcement items. That meeting has tentatively been scheduled for next month.

• Council meets next at 7 p.m. Monday.