Streetlights Removal in Baldwin Should Start This Month

Streetlights Removal Starting

Crews from Duquesne Light will descend on to remove starting as early as the end of this month, Baldwin Manager John Barrett said a borough council meeting on Tuesday night.

Barrett said that the removal process, which is expected to save borough taxpayers an estimated $66,000 annually in energy costs, should take 60-90 days to complete.

A joint recommendation by Baldwin Mayor Alexander R. Bennett Jr. and  Sgt. Kim Reising was to take away 376 borough lights, but after hearing concerns from residents during two special public meetings (, ) on the subject—as well as from emails and phone calls—Bennett and Reising pared their elimination list down by 10 lights.

Nevertheless, the borough is losing over 27 percent of its streetlights.

Significant energy savings will not be realized until another year, as Duquesne Light will charge around $58,000 to remove the lights.

Route 51 Pedestrian Safety

The Baldwin Borough Council, by a 6-0 vote on Tuesday, awarded Alpha Space Control Company, of Franklin County, PA, a contract not to exceed $8,035 for crosswalk painting at three busy intersections on Route 51. (Councilman John Ferris was absent.)

The lines will be painted between  and Irwin Drive, between  and Grace Street, and between  and Streets Run Road (on the  border), roughly.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has OK'd crosswalks for those intersections, but Baldwin will be responsible for paying for them. Where the money will come from exactly has yet to be determined, but borough leaders are considering shifting money around under a current budget plan, possibly pulling from labor savings realized by a mild winter.

Barrett said that borough officials are continuing to investigate the possibility of adding a left turning arrow at the Irwin intersection, as well.

On Feb. 1, a woman was , and on March 8, a man was .

Borough Engineer Pays for Extended Pool Hours on Community Day

Baldwin Councilman Ed Moeller thanked the borough's engineering firm of Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc., for agreeing to cover the cost of opening the for free public access from 1 to 8 p.m. on Baldwin Community Day, Saturday, June 2.

Because of the firm's generosity, Moeller said, the swimming portion of Community Day this year is able to be extended from its normal 5 p.m. closing time. All are welcome.

Moeller hopes that the extra hours will keep people near the borough's municipal complex longer than usual to enjoy a fireworks show that starts at around 10 p.m.

Barrett expects that the cost to operate the pool on Community Day will be around $600.

REMINDER: Local Real Estate Tax Bills to Hit Borough Residents in February

Councilman Michael Stelmasczyk reminded borough residents on Tuesday night that a  has authorized the borough tax collector to rein in real estate taxes next year starting on Feb. 1.

Road Maintenance/Paving Project

The Baldwin Council, by a 6-0 vote on Tuesday, awarded Michael Facchiano Contracting, Inc., of Mt. Lebanon, a contract not to exceed $713,260 for the borough's 2012 road maintenance/paving project.

Recognition for Councilman

The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) honored Baldwin Councilman John Conley recently with a Cecil K. Leberknight Award.

According to a news release, the award, named after former PSAB President Leberknight in honor of his faithful service to the association for more than four decades, is given annually to promote interest in borough government and to recognize faithful and effective service by borough officials.

Among those receiving the award are mayors, council members, secretaries, managers and treasurers who have completed 10 or more years of borough service.

Hole-in-One for Mayor

Mayor Bennett had his first ever hole-in-one the other day, a topic brought up lightheartedly at Tuesday's meeting.

"I hardly ever hit a green," the mayor said.

Bennett used a 9-iron on a 118-yard hole at Pine Grove Golf Course in Grove City Borough on Saturday.

A Finger Saved Could Be Millions Earned

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