Cranberry Coffee Meetings Offer Peek at Township Inner Workings

A few years ago, manager Jerry Andree began regularly meeting with residents to talk everything township related over cups of coffee. The informal meetings were well received by the public, sometimes attracting up to 35 people, Andree said.

“I always leave feeling great that people are really educated and more aware,” he said. “It’s been a very, very positive experience.”

While the amount of people at the coffee dates varies, Andree said one request remains the same -- people want to learn more about the inner workings of the township.

Request granted.

Starting next week and continuing through 2011, the coffee meetings will be held at five different township locations where residents can go behind the scenes to learn what makes the township tick.

Things kick off Aug. 10 at the Cranberry Township , where residents will be able to view the machinery that keeps the pool running.

Other upcoming locations are the's Turf Grass Center for a walk on the Audubon Nature Trail, the township’s administrative offices and the Cranberry police department, and the traffic operations center in the public works building. For the September meeting, residents are invited to take a stroll through the Powell Road Brush Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant to watch tiny creatures hard at work.

And no, that does not refer to the township staff. Andree said there would be a microscopes available at the plant so visitors can observe the almost invisible "good" bugs eat the waste. Before you let out an “eww!” Andree said the process fascinates most people.

“It’s a biological process that’s used, enhanced with some chemicals,” he said.

Andree said he expects the meetings to be well-attended. Most residents are unaware of the many unseen processes that keep the township running smoothly, he said.

“I think people are always amazed at the complexity of the community,” he said. “They don’t realize all the components that pull things together.”

If you’re going:

Pre-registration is required because of space limitations. Call Cranberry’s customer service 724-776-4806 to register. The schedule:

August 10: Meet at the at North Boundary Park. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

September 7:  Meet at the Powell Road Brush Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

October 12:  Meet at the Turf Grass Center to walk the Audubon Nature Trail and observe local wildlife up close and personal. 10 to 11:30 a.m.

November 9:  Tours of the Cranberry Township and the . Choose the morning or evening option, 9:30 to 11 a.m. or 7 to 8:30 p.m. 

December 7: Meet at public works Traffic Operations Center on Ernie Mashuda Drive and watch Cranberry’s advanced signal technology control the flow of traffic. 7 to 8:30 p.m.