Final Phase for Fire Station

Mark Edelmann, the architect of the new Whitehall Fire Company station along Route 51, gave the Whitehall Borough Council an update on Wednesday night about the station's construction.

"We're at 95-percent payment on all contracts," Edelmann said of the firehouse, which was put into use by the borough's firefighters about a week ago. "Everything is in the building. Everything is installed."

Edelmann went on to say that there is only one outstanding issue with the new station concerning "unsuitable soil." Edelmann and his colleagues at Gateway Engineers are in the process of reviewing that issue and will provide a recommendation to the Whitehall Council soon.

Councilman and ex-firefighter Philip Lahr praised Edelmann's work and diligence in overseeing the fire station project and expressed his pleasure in the finished product.

"It is a very functional fire station," Edelmann agreed.

Marcellus Shale Follow-Up

As a follow-up to lengthy discussions during March and April council meetings regarding possible Marcellus Shale drilling in Whitehall, borough resident Victoria Scholl thanked Whitehall Mayor James F. Nowalk for giving her community group—South Hills Area Against Dangerous Drilling (SHAADD)—a chance to express its opinions on the issue.

According to its website, SHAADD works "to educate ourselves and others about the potential dangers of hydraulic fracturing and natural-gas extraction and to advocate for our right to protect our communities and environment."

Nowalk said that he appreciates the letters and materials sent to him by members of SHAADD and that he continues to educate himself on natural-gas drilling.

Shade Tree Commission

The Whitehall Council passed a motion on Wednesday night related to its recently finalized multi-municipal Shade Tree Commission with neighboring Baldwin and Brentwood boroughs. The motion requires each of those three participating municipalities to appoint three voting members to the commission.

Councilwoman Linda J. Book, who recently attended a Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs meeting, talked of the favorable publicity that the Shade Tree Commission has received.

"It is the first of its kind in the state," Book said.

Just One Meeting in July

There will be only one Whitehall Council meeting in July 2012—the 18th. The one scheduled for July 4 has been canceled.

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