Export officials keep busy with projects throughout borough
A ribbon-cutting for the next phase of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail is officially scheduled for the Export Ethnic Food & Music Festival on Aug. 17, council member said recently.
But the trail isn’t the only improvement project happening in the borough this summer. Council ran down a list of projects that are either underway or set to begin shortly:
• The borough has created a four-way stop at the intersection of Polk Street, Washington Avenue and the borough parking lot. The intersection will also have flashing red lights in place temporarily, as residents acclimate to the new traffic controls.
“We have a nice main street, and we’re going to slow people down so they can take a look around and see what all we have in town,” Councilman Joe Ferri said.
• Council awarded an $8,500 contract to have the borough building on Washington Avenue repainted, pending a review of the contract by the borough’s solicitor.
The work will be complete in advance of the Aug. 17 festival, and the project also includes $600 for the trimming of a tree next to the borough building.
• Council voted to keep the lights on at the Export playground until 11 p.m., and will replace the current signage stating the park closes at dusk. Councilwoman Melanie Litz cited increased use of the park’s basketball court. Council is also seeking to have the court resurfaced.
“The court’s been getting a lot of use lately,” Litz said. “It’s in pretty bad shape. I think we should provide a better area for kids play.”
• The $107,000 project to fix the McKinley Street retaining wall is slated to begin by mid-July, according to borough officials. The project is being funded using federal Community Development Block Grant dollars.
• Export Historical Society board members will discuss future plans for the former Westmoreland Coal Company mine entrance unearthed as part of an Eagle Scout project behind District Court 10-3-02.
Society members would like to create a historical display inside the entrance, where visitors can learn more about the borough’s coal-mining history.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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