Ross Walker begins 23rd year as chairman of Upper Burrell Supervisors

Although his father tried to dissuade him from entering politics because he didn’t think it would mix well with the family funeral home business, Ross G. Walker III became the longest-tenured chairman of the Upper Burrell Board of Supervisors.

This month, he began his 23rd year as chairman and 24^th year on the board altogether. A New Kensington native, Walker, 66, plans to run for a fifth term this year.

Politics hasn’t harmed the Ross G. Walker Funeral Home, a mainstay in New Kensington with operations dating back to 1894. Walker’s father, Ross G. Walker Jr., took over the business in 1948 and Walker took the reins in 1978. His son, Ross G. Walker IV, is now heading operations.

Walker’s business acumen undoubtedly influenced his role as an Upper Burrell supervisor. The township, known for its rural vibe, has a low tax rate, no debt and a balanced budget each year that doesn’t require a loan or dipping into reserves.

The ingredients for a good place to live, Walker said, are providing stellar public services, using quality equipment and operating within the township’s financial means.

He is proud to still have a 24-hour, locally staffed police department at a time when many rural communities have opted for partial coverage by state police or neighboring departments.

“You can call police in the middle of the night and you’ll get someone from Upper Burrell,” Walker said.

Walker credits the three-man public works department with maintaining the 44 miles of roads in the township, including helping with the state-owned roads.

The notoriously imperfect condition of some of the roads is a hallmark of the township, good and bad, said Walker. He thinks they’re mostly good.

A number of the township roads were laid in the 1700s with a clay base. That requires regular patching and repairs.

“I always say we can pave all of our roads, but we will have to triple our tax rates,” Walker said.

No one has yet to take him up on that offer.

Walker sees a silver lining: “If the roads were smooth and nice, then people would fly on them. There are many curves. It might be good that the roads aren’t perfect — it keeps the speed down a little.”

Walker, a Republican, said he has tried to focus on “prioritizing people over politics” and follow his dad’s golden rule of putting himself in another person’s shoes and asking, “How will this affect me?”

He said there have been unpopular decisions, such as allowing the township’s first Marcellus shale well in 2018 in a move that caused a stir and resulted in litigation. In the end, the well was installed and so far there have been no issues, Walker said.

Unpopular decisions are inevitable over time, said township Supervisor Mike Conley, who has been on the board for 17 years.

“Ross is a terrific person who tries to please everybody, which is impossible,” Conley said.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve worked with him,” Conley said. “We never have knock-down, drag-out arguments. We might disagree on something, but we always discuss it and come up with a solution we’re happy with.”