New Lower Burrell Council members want movies in the park, and a microbrewery would be nice, too
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Two new Lower Burrell Council members are calling to help the city’s fire volunteer departments and bring a microbrewery and more to the city.
Lower Burrell Council welcomed two new Republican members this month, Brandy Grieff and David Stoltz, who ran unopposed for a four-year term. They replace Councilmen Joe Grillo and Rob Hamilton, who chose not to run.
The newcomers have the potential to energize the five-member voting board, which includes the mayor.
Councilman Chris Fabry said he got to know Grieff and Stoltz over the past year. Both got a running start with their civic duty, helping with the city’s light-up night and holiday celebrations.
“Their collective energy and fresh ideas are exciting,” Fabry said. “This is the most optimistic I’ve been in a long time about the future of our city.”
Grieff, 43, is a registered nurse and immunology specialist and a mother of three children. Her husband, Chad, is a longtime professional firefighter who also volunteers with Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 3.
“I work with checks and balances, and that will translate well to council,” she said.
Grieff is looking for more of a community vibe and wants the city to back more local events.
She would like to see more movies nights at Kotecki park and at the fire stations. She’d like the city to work with the Burrell School District on more community projects such as Project Bundle-Up.
As the city’s director of public safety, Grieff wants to dive deeper into the issues facing local fire companies and see how the city can support efforts to retain and attract more volunteer firefighters.
Grieff, who has been living in the city for about 2½ years, is also a former New Kensington resident. She can’t help but be impressed with the resurgence of businesses and the community there.
Grieff and Stoltz said they want to see a similar upswing in Lower Burrell.
Stoltz, 50, who works in industrial sales with a background in project management, is fired up to bring new businesses to the city.
Stoltz is a lifelong and third-generation Lower Burrell resident.
“One of the big reasons I wanted on city council is we need people out there to promote the city, bring in new business and promote Lower Burrell as a good place to live,” he said.
Given the demographics of the city, the days of a big box store opening in the city are over, Stoltz said.
“The culture has changed: Everybody buys from Amazon, there’s not a lot of people going to big retail stores,” he said.
He wants a microbrewery to come to the city.
“A microbrewery would bring young people to town,” Stoltz said. “It’s on top of my list. I will be reaching out to people on it.”
Stoltz wants to encourage the development of condos for middle-income residents.
“Maybe we need to change it up and allow someone to come in and put up some condos above a retail space,” Stoltz said.
He also wants to focus on empty business buildings and see how the city can change its rules to allow for a range of developments.