South Fayette Connect - Winter 2023 - Volume 8, Issue 1

WINTER 2023

On the Cover

Police officer Mike Blocher speaks with another officer during a traffic stop along Washington Pike in December. The South Fayette Township Police Department has launched a full-time traffic unit dedicated to road safety. Photo by Andrea Iglar

A

for a 40,000-square-foot building at Alpine Point Business Park was among the $19 million in commercial development activity in 2022. Photo by Andrea Iglar .

Manager's Message JOHN M. BARRETT

nother year is in the books—and it was another great year for South Fayette Township.

We enter 2023 poised to hit the ground running and keep our momentum going.

But before we shut the doors on last year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments.

To some, the year will be remembered as the year we killed the toll bridge proposal. Understanding the negative impacts that would have resulted from PennDOT’s plan to toll the Interstate 79 bridge in South Fayette, township officials took legal action to stop the project before it could begin.

We also saw the long-awaited completion of the Southern Beltway, including four miles within our borders. The Pennsylvania Turnpike’s highway provided South Fayette with a direct connection to Pittsburgh International Airport and opened up hundreds of acres of land to potential development.

Work continued at Fairview Park to expand recreational amenities on the Mayview site. Overall, we secured $1.65 million in grants for park projects in 2022—and that’s on top of the $1 million grant we received the year before.

Perhaps most importantly, we enjoyed opportunities to spend time with friends and neighbors at a dozen outdoor events such as South Fayette Community Day, which returned in August after a two-year pandemic hiatus. More than 15,000 people attended community events in 2022, while 50 local businesses contributed more than $55,000 in support of them.

I am so proud of all the hard work township staff has put into making our community stronger, and I thank our strong network of elected officials, volunteers, first responders and other community leaders for their countless hours of support.

Now, bring on 2023…

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Gwen A. Rodi, President

Rebecca Sray, Vice President

Keith Dernosek

Joseph Horowitz

Lisa Malosh

TOWNSHIP MANAGER

John M. Barrett

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andrea Iglar

ART DIRECTOR

Andrea Iglar

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Andrea Iglar

Paula Willis

Kristen Bagwell

CONTRIBUTORS

Shelley Phoennik

Abbey Scheerer

Daniel Thompson Photography

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

South Fayette Connect is a free magazine published and distributed quarterly by South Fayette Township for the benefit of its citizens. The magazine is a nonprofit source of public information aimed at building a strong sense of community identity and pride.

If your delivery is missed, please inform your postal carrier. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editor. © Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

ADVERTISING

South Fayette Connect offers advertisements in exchange for sponsorship of certain community events and programs. Contact the magazine editor or visit SouthFayettePA.com/ads.

South Fayette SHORTS

Chat with police chief Feb. 16

Meet John Phoennik, the South Fayette Township police chief, to share comments and ask questions on Thurs. Feb. 16 at the Sturgeon Volunteer Fire Department, 526 Main Street, South Fayette. Drop in from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free, and refreshments are provided.

Park rental rates updated

Police lauded for traffic safety efforts

The South Fayette Township Police Department has earned a 2022 Community Traffic Safety Platinum Award from AAA East Central.

The award recognizes efforts to reduce motor vehicle injuries and fatalities by encouraging safe driving through educational programs and promotional campaigns.

Police Chief John Phoennik accepted the award from Terri Petrick, president of AAA East Central, in November (pictured).

Pavilion rental rates in the South Fayette Township parks have risen by $10. It is the first price increase in a decade. Also, field rentals have changed from a daily rate to an hourly rate. Find pricing and request rentals under "Reservations and Permits" at southfayettepa.com/recreation.

Township tax bills mailed April 1

Real estate tax bills for the Township of South Fayette will be mailed April 1. If you are responsible for paying your property taxes directly (not through a mortgage company), please check your mailbox for the bill. If you do not receive the bill by April 15, contact tax collector Kevin Biber at 412-221-9250. Each year, homeowners receive three separate tax bills from three different entities: South Fayette Township (4.73 mills), Allegheny County (also 4.73 mills) and South Fayette School District (26.7 mills).

Free food packages available to older adults

Adults age 60 or older who meet certain income guidelines may register to receive a free box of nonperishable foods, plus cheese, once a month through the Senior Food Box Program. Distribution is held monthly at the South Fayette Township building. Details: 412-221-8700 ext. 222 or southfayettepa.com/foodbox

Sign up for news and alerts

Be the first to know! Sign up for news, emergency alerts, road closure notices, trash collection delays and more, delivered by email or text message. Sign up now at southfayettepa.com/notifyme.

Businesses asked to register with municipality

Commercial property owners and business owners are asked to register their business information with South Fayette Township for public safety purposes. Please complete the online form, and provide an emergency contact, at southfayettepa.com/ businessregistration or call 412-221-8700 ext. 219.

Ask Abbey

How do I prevent my pipes from freezing during winter weather?

Follow these tips from Pennsylvania American Water to prevent frozen pipes that can burst and result in costly repairs.

What do plumbers say every time they fix a burst pipe? Water relief! Joking aside, no one wants to pay a big bill to fix damages caused by a burst pipe.

Taking the right steps to prepare for cold weather can keep your pipes from freezing, saving you a huge headache and potentially thousands of dollars in repairs.

Here are some ways to prevent frozen and damaged pipes, courtesy of South Fayette Township’s water supplier, Pennsylvania American Water:

How to be proactive:

• Locate areas susceptible to freezing temperatures (32 F and below), such as basements, unheated rooms, crawl spaces and outside walls.

• Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls, closing off crawl spaces and sealing drafts around doors.

• Disconnect outside hoses before freezing temperatures hit.

• Protect your pipes and water meter. Wrap exposed pipes with insulation or use electrical heat tracing wire, newspaper or fabric. For outside meters, keep the lid on the meter pit closed tightly, and let any snowfall cover it to help insulate it.

• If your pipes are vulnerable to freezing, allow a small trickle of water to run overnight. The cost

of extra water is low compared to repairing a broken pipe.

• Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures.

What to do if your pipes freeze:

• Shut off the water immediately. (Familiarize yourself with the location of the main water shutoff valve in advance.)

• Apply heat to the pipe by warming the air around it or applying heat directly to it. You can try a hair dryer, a space heater (be sure not to leave it unattended), or even hot water. Never use a kerosene heater, torch or open flame.

• Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn water back on and check for cracks and leaks.

When you are away from home:

• Have someone you trust check on your property regularly to ensure the heat is on and working, and that the pipes have not frozen.

• You can purchase a freeze alarm (for less than $100), which will call a user-selected phone number if the inside temperature drops below 45 degrees.

Abbey Scheerer is an administrative assistant with South Fayette Township.

After working as a staff accountant for a credit union and as a summer parks employee, Joe Bastaroli decided he preferred more active work. In 2021, he accepted a full-time job with South Fayette Township Public Works. "I like working outside, working with my hands," he said.

Hometown: Grew up in the Sturgeon neighborhood of South Fayette; lives in Mt. Pleasant, Washington County

Education: Graduated from South Fayette High School; earned bachelor's degree in accounting from Robert Morris University

Hobbies: Cooking and grilling, hunting, and spending time at camp in Indiana County

Pet: Bentley, a pit bull

First Job: Ranch hand at Rolling Hills Ranch horse farm

First Car: 2004 Ford Ranger, blue

Favorite Foods: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; pizza with pepperoni and banana pepper

Favorite TV Show: "Cheers"

Bucket List: Visit Alaska

Best Quality of South Fayette: "The camaraderie and sense of community. We do a good job of organizing community events."

Fun Fact: Joe preserves and cans produce that he grows in his vegetable garden. He also raises egg-laying chickens.

— Andrea Iglar

South Fayette CODE CORNER

License and registration, please

Traffic enforcement based on state laws

Police pull over drivers for violations of Pennsylvania Vehicle Code

By Andrea Iglar

When police officers issue tickets for traffic violations such as speeding, running a stop sign or having expired inspection stickers, they are enforcing the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.

Locally, the South Fayette Township Police Department is primarily responsible for upholding the code.

Police Chief John Phoennik said officers have the discretion whether to issue a warning or a citation.

“It’s more about traffic education than traffic enforcement,” he said. “But our officers do have the full power to enforce all of the traffic laws.”

The vehicle code, available on the state Department of Motor Vehicles webpage, provides numerous traffic laws covering everything from registration and licensing to speeding and DUI.

“It’s a traffic guide that officers use to enforce all regulations and violations according to Pennsylvania state statutes,” Chief Phoennik said. “We don’t make the laws, we just enforce them.”

While all patrol officers in South Fayette conduct traffic enforcement, the police department formed a two-person traffic unit last year dedicated solely to enforcing the rules of the road.

If a driver is cited for a violation, and pleads guilty or is found guilty in court, a fine and fees may be imposed—and in some serious circumstances, imprisonment may occur.

Fines vary depending on the violation, and only half the fine stays with local police.

For example, if a driver must pay a $25 fine for a stop sign violation, $12.50 goes to the township and $12.50 goes to the state.

“Traffic citations are not a moneymaker, they are a money loser,” Chief Phoennik said.

The remaining $132.50 listed on a traffic ticket represents fees that are distributed for various purposes to the state, the court system and emergency medical services.

Here are the fees listed on a traffic

citation and a summary of where the money goes:

• EMS: Supports emergency medical service systems and eligible victims of motor vehicle accidents

• Surcharge: Supplies money to state funds

• Costs: Covers magisterial court expenses

• JCP (Judicial Computer Program) / ATJ (Access to Justice): Funds various aspects of the criminal justice system

“The South Fayette Police Department does not enforce traffic laws for revenue,” Chief Phoennik said. “It’s for safety.”

Traffic Laws

Code: Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (Title 75)

Purpose: To provide public safety regulations related to drivers and vehicles in Pennsylvania

Enforcement: South Fayette Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies

Code Violation: $25 minimum fine plus fees if cited and found guilty; fines vary depending on violation

View Code: southfayettepa.com/ vehiclecode

Chart by Andrea Iglar

SNOWSTORM? 'SNO PROBLEM!

Township offers tips for safe, efficient snow removal

Make sure cars, mailboxes, trees and basketball hoops don't block plow trucks

By Andrea Iglar

Winter in Pennsylvania means shoveling, salting and plowing. In South Fayette, the Public Works Department operates 16 trucks to salt and plow township roads.

Residents and truck drivers can work together to help ensure safe, efficient snow removal. Here are some guidelines to help prepare for a snowstorm and approach snow removal:

Avoid Parking on Road

• Do not park any vehicles on roads or culs-de-sac.

Remove Obstacles

• Remove portable basketball hoops or other equipment that may be blocking the road or hanging above the roadway.

• Trim back any overgrown trees or vegetation.

Secure Mailboxes

• Ensure your mailbox does not extend over the edge of the road.

• As needed, repair your mailbox or post to withstand the force of snow pushed from the street onto the roadside. (The township repairs or replaces only mailboxes or posts that actually are struck by the plow blade.)

Shovel Smartly

• Shovel your driveway after the plow truck clears your road.

• Do not shovel snow into the road.

Keep Fire Hydrants Clear

• Clear snow from a 3-foot diameter around fire hydrants.

• Shovel a path between each hydrant and its nearest street.

The agency responsible for plowing and salting each road depends on who owns the road.

South Fayette Township owns and maintains about 80 miles of local roadway, plus removes snow from about 15 miles of state roads through contractual agreements.

Individual owners maintain private roads.

Allegheny County Public Works maintains county-owned roads.

State-owned roads are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or by South Fayette.

For more information about winter road maintenance, please visit southfayettepa.com/snow.

Public Works employees load salt into the bed of a plow truck during a winter snowstorm in 2020.

(Photo by Andrea Iglar)

Managing director of sewer authority retires

Jerry Brown oversaw sanitary sewer system for 30 years

By Andrea Iglar

This February marks 60 years since the formation of the Municipal Authority of the Township of South Fayette.

Jerry Brown was there for half its history.

Brown spent more than 30 years overseeing the community’s public sanitary sewer system. On Dec. 31, he retired from his position as managing director.

Ken Chambon, chairman of the authority board, said Brown’s rapport with partner organizations, plus his knowledge of the industry, has earned the municipal authority a good reputation.

“We’re known as one of the better authorities around, and it’s because of his leadership,” Chambon said.

Brown, who has lived in South Fayette since 1989, plans to enjoy more leisure time at his cabin near Somerset in the Laurel Mountains, where he grew up. He also plans to travel, complete home projects and spend time with his adult children, Dan, Matt, Mark and Amber.

Brown announced his retirement a year in advance, providing ample time to develop a transition plan.

Rather than directly replace Brown’s position, the authority established dual management positions that will report directly to the five-member citizens board—operations manager and office manager.

Both positions were internal promotions. Operations manager Nick Goettman has 12 years of experience in field operations, while office manager Jamie Summers has worked in billing and customer service for 22 years.

The staff also includes four full-time field employees, plus one full-time and three part-time customer service agents.

Formed on Feb. 10, 1963, to create a sanitary sewer system, the municipal authority operates a system of pipes and pumps that conveys about 2 million gallons of wastewater a day from South Fayette to the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) sewage treatment plant in Pittsburgh.

The municipal authority in South Fayette is an independent organization that is separate from the township government. Revenues come from customer billing, new connection fees and an occasional grant—not from tax money.

Brown became familiar with the authority when he was working on sewer-related projects at engineering firms, having previously earned an associate degree and taken engineering courses.

In August 1988 he was hired to manage the authority. In 2009, he left to work for an environmental nonprofit but returned three years later at the request of the board. He stayed until retirement.

As the township grew and developed over the years, Brown managed major sewage system expansions, seeing an average of 106 new customers added each year.

In 2022, the authority served 7,189 customers (6,914 homes, 264 businesses and 10 public entities). That’s more than double the number when Brown started his job.

Brown said that during his tenure, he planned for future growth with the big picture in mind.

He cooperated with individuals, developers, neighboring communities, the authority board and outside agencies to ensure efficient, cost-effective expansion and maintenance.

“In a nutshell,” Brown said, “I think just the ability to do those things is probably what I strived to do over the years.”

Gold Sponsors ◆ Accessible Hunt ◆ Thank you!

▼ For 30 years, Jerry Brown managed the Municipal Authority of the Township of South Fayette. He retired at the end of 2022. (Photo by Andrea Iglar)

PFC Cohlman Carpenter Army

South Fayette AROUND THE TOWNSHIP

Sept. 2020

For decades, the bridge featured a wooden walkway and railings.

70 years of bridge history

The Mill Street Bridge, crossing Robinson Run near the Panhandle Trail in South Fayette, reopened in December after a 5-month-long, $992,564 replacement project by Allegheny County.

The bridge, officially named Robinson Run South Branch Bridge No. 3, crosses the creek in the Noblestown area between Scotch Hill Road in South Fayette and Mill Street in North Fayette.

Here is a brief history of the bridge in images.

—Text & photos by Andrea Iglar

1951 More than 70 years ago, the bridge crossed Robinson Run at Scotch Hill Road and ended at railroad tracks. A railroad building, upper left, still stood when township officials snapped this photo in 1951. Since then, the tracks have been converted to the Panhandle Trail, a walking and biking path.

Oct. 2022 Contractor Mele & Mele & Sons, Inc. of Braddock rebuilt the bridge. The Panhandle Trail, upper right, remained accessible during construction.

Dec. 2022 A modern bridge with a concrete walkway and barriers opened Dec. 12, 2022. The span includes new pavement, guide rails, pavement markings and signs.

South Fayette students chosen for '18 Under 18’

South Fayette High School students Grace Howard and Mohammad Shedeed have been chosen as “18 Under Eighteen” honorees by Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania.

The second annual program showcases the talents and achievements of youth ages 10 to 18 across the region.

Both honorees are mental health advocates and community volunteers.

Howard, 18, is senior class vice president.

She is involved with the high school’s teen mental health wellness club, Stand Together, and the student government wellness committee.

Captain of the track team, she has won the WPIAL high jump championship, placing sixth overall in the state.

She is an active member of Triumph Baptist Church in the North Hills, where she leads multiple outreach efforts.

In 2020, she spearheaded Covid Love Bags, an initiative to supply care packages to senior congregation members during the pandemic lockdown.

Shedeed, 18, is co-chair of the high school’s student diversity committee SHOUT (Social Handprints Overcoming Unjust Treatment).

As a child of first-generation immigrants from the Middle East, he works to end the stigma surrounding mental health for immigrants of Middle Eastern origin.

He is a member of the Pennsylvania Youth Advocacy Network, where he helped write a proclamation recognizing Teen Mental Health Day.

He also works with Work2BeWell, an organization aiming to destigmatize mental health and promote mental health resources. He created a podcast series called Talk2Be that discusses mental health topics for teens.

Junior Achievement of Western PA is a nonprofit based in South Fayette Township.

“These outstanding kids represent both the best of the next generation and the good that exists in the world,” organization president Patrice Matamoros said.

Junior Achievement is featuring the students on billboards throughout the Pittsburgh area and recognizing them during a ceremony at the UPMC Club at Acrisure Stadium in February.

Diamond Sponsor ◆ Joy-Thru Fairview ◆ Thank you!

Junior Achievement of Western PA is honoring South Fayette students Grace Howard, left, and Mohammad Shedeed for their talents and accomplishments. (Submitted photo)

—Andrea Iglar

“These outstanding kids represent both the best of the next generation and the good that exists in the world.”

—Patrice Matamoros, Junior Achievement of Western PA

'There is more to life' Clinic owner inspired by personal experience

Shellie Spero opens Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center in South Fayette

By Andrea Iglar

Sometimes, business is personal.

Two years ago, Shellie Spero fell in the snow and suffered injuries that led to a lifethreatening condition.

It was a long, difficult road, but she recovered her health and, in December, opened a franchise of Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in South Fayette Township.

“Now I can take my experience and what I’ve learned and translate that to others,” Spero said. “For me, it’s very personal.”

For 20 years, Spero had worked in the pharmaceutical industry in North Carolina and became interested in holistic treatment and health coaching.

A native of Mt. Lebanon, she eventually returned home to care for her parents.

Then, on a winter day in 2020, she lost her footing while clearing snow from a car roof and dislocated her foot.

All three ankle bones were broken—a rare trimalleolar fracture that required surgery and extensive physical therapy.

While she was grateful for good doctors and home health care, Spero often felt helpless and uncertain about the future.

For a period, she could not stand or walk, and overall, she endured four surgeries. At one point, she experienced a lifethreatening blood clot.

When she wasn’t mobile, Spero had time to “rethink things” and became certified in Reiki energy healing. She modified her diet and nutritional intake. Emotional recovery,

she said, “took time, acceptance, compassion on myself.”

This experience spurred her decision to open the physical therapy center to help others recover their health.

Not only that, but she also wants people to end up better than they were before an injury.

“That’s what I have, and that’s what I want for everybody else,” Spero said.

Fyzical Therapy has more than 400 locations across the country. The South Fayette center is the first of three locations that Spero plans to open in the region.

Fyzical in South Fayette offers services such as injury recovery, balance therapy, pain management, orthopedic and sports rehabilitation, medical massage and pelvic floor treatment.

The staff includes physical therapist Michelle Darnley, who is the clinical director.

Specialty equipment includes an overhead support system with a safety harness that patients can use during balance training, and a deep tissue laser tool used for pain and inflammation therapy.

Overall, Spero aims to use a holistic approach to provide the tools, assistance, education and encouragement needed to recover from injuries and prevent future problems.

“There is more to life regardless of your age or condition,” she said. “This isn’t the end of the road.”

Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center, The Shoppes at Bursca, 3127 Washington Pike, Suite 200, South Fayette: 412-785-0111; Facebook; fyzical.com/bridgeville-pa.

▲ Shellie Spero was inspired to open a physical therapy clinic after recovering from a serious ankle injury. ▼ With help from physical therapist Michelle Darnley, right, Fyzical office manager Matt Fignar demonstrates how a patient may practice balance in a safety harness. (Photos by Andrea Iglar)

Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site is honored to be serving South Fayette Township as the architect and designer of the New Municipal Complex and Community Center. The Municipal Complex is currently under construction and scheduled to be complete in the Summer of 2023, and the Community Center is scheduled to start construction in 2023.

Bite into Pittsburgh-style sandwiches in South Fayette

Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar has opened shop in South Fayette.

The chain is best known for sandwiches that are piled with fries and coleslaw, but the menu also offers wings, pizza, appetizers, loaded fries and more. The 5,230-square-foot restaurant and full-service bar opened in December at The Piazza, the new retail center near Interstate 79.

Décor includes photos from the local community and a mural featuring notable people and places from Pittsburgh and South Fayette, including the façade of the South Fayette Township Library.

A preopening party in December raised $3,500 for the library, including $1,250 from individual donations and $2,250 from Primanti Bros.

Primanti Bros. operates more than 40 locations in six states.

Founded in the Pittsburgh Strip District in 1933, the company marks its 90th anniversary this year.

Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar, The Piazza, 195 Millers Run Road, South Fayette: 412-413-9263; Twitter, Facebook, Instagram; primantibros.com

—Text & photos by Andrea Iglar

Gold Sponsor ◆ Thanks for Giving ◆ Thank you!

Gold Sponsor ◆ Joy-Thru Fairview ◆ Thank you!

This mural at Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar in South Fayette includes notable people and places from the local community.

South Fayette Township recognized 50 businesses at Thanks for Giving in November. Commissioners Gwen Rodi, Rebecca Sray and Keith Dernosek presented attendees with certificates of appreciation, left. The group enjoyed Topgolf, top right, and lunch, bottom right. (Photos by Shelley Phoennik)

'Thanks for Giving' luncheon recognizes sponsors

Businesses contribute thousands to community events and programs

By Andrea Iglar

Fifty organizations donated a total of $55,475 to support community events and programs in South Fayette last year.

Township officials recognized the 2022 sponsors during the annual Thanks for Giving appreciation luncheon at Topgolf in South Fayette in November.

Paula Willis, the township parks and recreation director, said the donations covered 61% of community event expenses.

“We were able to bring events to the community for free, thanks to these generous contributions,” Willis said.

Sponsors donated to South Fayette Community Day, Toucha-Truck, Movies in the Park, Concert in the Park, Bunny Hop Trail, Earth Cleanup Week, Accessible Hunt, fireworks, glass recycling and Joy-Thru Fairview.

Also garnering support was Summer Playground Camp, an affordable parks program for children ages 5 to 12.

Nearly 100 people attended Thanks for Giving to enjoy networking, lunch and golfing. All sponsors received a certificate of appreciation, and top sponsors were recognized with trophies.

Top contributors included Dollar Bank and Washington Financial Bank. The most frequent contributors were Goldberg, Kamin & Garvin LLP, Herbert Rowland & Grubic Inc., John Kosky Contracting Inc., Kiddie Academy of South Fayette and Schulz Service Center.

The South Fayette Township sponsorship program offers opportunities for organizations to support community events and programs while being recognized for their contributions.

Businesses select the events they wish to support, and in return, they receive perks such as recognition on event signage, social media tags and complimentary magazine advertisements in South Fayette Connect.

“Our sponsors care about the community,” Willis said.

Also at Thanks for Giving, township officials recognized sponsors of the Evelsizer Family 5K and acknowledged organizations that contributed toward park projects. For details about 2023 giving opportunities, please visit southfayettepa.com/sponsor or call 412-221-8700.

Gold Sponsors ◆ Joy-Thru Fairview ◆ Thank you!

State, county and local officials join business leaders in October for the groundbreaking of a $1.3 million, 40,000-square-foot light industrial building at Alpine Point Business Park along Alpine Road in South Fayette.

Facing page: Primanti Bros. finishes a nearly $1 million build-out at The Piazza in December.

Commercial development stays strong

Businesses invested $19 million in 2022

By Andrea Iglar

From new construction to renovations, business development in South Fayette topped $19 million last year. Of that total, more than $12.6 million was invested in new commercial construction, according to 2022 building permit figures.

Major new commercial construction projects were:

• Tesla Service Center and Showroom, Newbury Market ($7 million)

• Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill, The Piazza ($2.9 million)

• 10,000-square-foot building, including apartments and 2,700 square feet of commercial space, The Crossroads at Hastings ($1.4 million)

• 40,000-square-foot light industrial building, with tenant to be determined, Alpine Point Business Park ($1.3 million)

The value of new construction in 2022 was roughly the same as the prior year—but the number of new construction permits decreased from 11 to six.

“Building costs have gone up substantially, so even with fewer permits, you’re going to see higher construction values,” township planning director Gary Hartz said. More than $5 million was invested in alterations, renovations and preparations to occupy building shells. Much of the renovation activity occurred at The Piazza, a 50,000-square-foot shopping center being developed by Burns Scalo Real Estate at the Interstate 79 interchange. As tenants prepare to move into the building shells, they remodel the interiors and exteriors to meet their needs. Permits for major renovations in 2022 included:

• Image Studios, The Piazza ($1.2 million)

• Primanti Bros., The Piazza ($959,000)

• Giant Eagle, 3239 Washington Pike ($850,000)

• Ivybrook Academy, The Shoppes at Bursca, Washington Pike ($650,000)

• GNB Battery, Southpointe Drive ($400,000)

• Bartram House Bakery, The Piazza ($275,000)

• The Milkshake Factory, The Piazza ($275,000)

• European Wax Center, The Piazza ($250,000)

• GNC Live Well, The Piazza ($204,000)

• Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center, The Shoppes at Bursca, Washington Pike ($135,000)

According to Allegheny County, the total value of all

Photos by Andrea Iglar

taxable real estate in South Fayette is more than $1.8 billion—an increase of $6.9 million over the course of 2022.

Township Manager John Barrett largely attributed this increase to construction at The Piazza and Newbury Market.

“We anticipated these projects and anticipated the positive impact they would have on township revenues,” he said.

Building Permits

The township Building and Code Department issues permits and conducts inspections to ensure projects are safely built to code.

In 2022, the department issued 417 building permits—18 more than in 2021.

A total of 69 are commercial permits, including 6 for new construction; 49 for fire alarms and other accessory features; and 14 for alterations, renovations, additions and demolitions.

Total estimated value of all building permits in 2022 was $65.6 million, including commercial, residential and tax-exempt.

The biggest tax-exempt permit was for the $16.4 million construction of South Fayette Township’s new 36,000-square-foot municipal center and police station on Hickory Grade Road.

Residential

A total of 344 residential building permits were issued, including 88 for new homes valued at $24 million.

A total of 56 were single-family, and 32 were townhouses.

Most of the new homes were located in Lafayette Meadow on Battle Ridge Road and Hastings on Mayview Road.

Homeowners spent $5 million on 242 accessory structures such as decks (92), fences (45), deck/patio roofs (25), rooftop solar panels (22), swimming pools (17) and sheds (15).

Looking Ahead

Barrett said the township's tax base will keep growing. “This growth will continue to provide us with the opportunity to expand and improve services to the community,” he said. Here are development highlights anticipated in 2023 and beyond:

• Home construction will continue at Hastings.

• Maronda Homes and Foxlane Homes are expected to start building single-family houses in Stonegate, a 192-lot plan along Battle Ridge Road, near the South Fayette school campus.

• Apex Newbury Apartments holds approvals to build a 416unit complex along Oakridge Road.

• Planning is under way for Cigars International, a 9,377-square-foot cigar store and lounge at Newbury Market, next to Topgolf.

• Chrome Federal Credit Union plans to build a bank at the corner of Millers Run Road and Route 50.

• Building permit applications are expected for three eateries at The Piazza, including Mezeh Mediterranean Grill (bowls, flatbreads, pockets), Raising Cane’s (chicken finger meals) and Pizzaiolo Primo (pizza, pasta, wine).

• The Piazza also announced tenant Stride Fitness, a boutique fitness studio.

Southern Beltway Corridor

The next big magnet for development is expected to be the area around the Southern Beltway. Four miles of the toll highway run through the southwestern part of the township.

The first major development at the beltway likely will be Traditions of America, a 497-acre mixed-use project to include an element of housing for adults ages 55 and older.

The project would extend water and sewer service to the largely undeveloped area, which will set the stage for additional development to follow, Barrett said.

“As the Southern Beltway corridor develops, the private sector will be investing to expand local infrastructure, so that burden should not be on the residents of South Fayette,” he said.

How are township tax dollars spent?

In the $17,662,606 operating budget for 2023, the biggest areas of spending are for police, public works, waste collection and debt service for new buildings. The parks budget increases for creation of a new division of employees to maintain parks and facilities.

A total of $883,950 is transferred into the capital reserve fund—essentially a savings account that helps pay for capital projects related to road paving, parks, facilities, infrastructure and equipment.

poised for progress

South Fayette Township holds tax rate steady for 2023

Budget positions municipality to build community center and expand park maintenance staff

By Andrea Iglar

South Fayette Township has adopted a $17.7 million operating budget for 2023 with no tax increase.

The township property tax rate remains at 4.73 mills, equivalent to $473 per $100,000 in assessed property value. For a home valued at $158,500—the median property value in South Fayette, according to Allegheny County—the township tax bill is about $750.

Township tax money funds numerous public services, such as police, roads, snow removal, parks and recreation, trash and recycling collection, stormwater management, code enforcement, planning and zoning, building inspection, communications and more.

Township Manager John Barrett said the 2023 budget supports plans to launch construction of a community recreation center and to expand park and facility maintenance.

“We will use the next two years to prepare for the operation of a recreation center, as well as the upkeep and maintenance required to have the facility become a true community resource,” Barrett said.

Community Center

At the end of 2020, the township borrowed $30 million through a 35-year bond issue to help fund construction of two buildings on Hickory Grade Road—first, a municipal office with a police station, and second, a community center.

Construction of the municipal building is in progress and is expected to wrap up in late summer.

Design is under way for the community center, which will include indoor recreational facilities and a library. Construction could start as early as this fall, with anticipated opening in 2025.

Township officials, with assistance from professional

Infographic by Andrea Iglar Percentages are rounded

consultants, are planning for the community center’s staffing, programming, equipment and maintenance needs, while ensuring the enterprise maximizes revenue and doesn’t cause unexpected jolts to future budgets, Barrett said.

Due to the bond issue, the 2023 budget shows annual debt repayment around $1.5 million, a number that is relatively low due to the 2.3% interest rate that the township had secured in 2020, Barrett said.

“Although construction costs have been higher recently, our debt service payments are much lower because we borrowed when interest rates were lower,” he said.

The township also is taking advantage of higher interest rates by making various short-term investments with the bond proceeds while awaiting construction.

Park and Facility Maintenance

Overall, the 2023 budget is $930,482 more than last year. New costs include utilities, supplies, insurance and other expenses related to the new municipal building, as well as the addition of park maintenance staff.

The township is launching a Parks and Facilities Division of the Public Works Department to maintain parks and public spaces. Up to five full-time, year-round union laborers may be hired. The additional expense is

South Fayette Township's new municipal center, including administrative offices, public meeting chambers and a police station, is under construction along Hickory Grade Road, with completion expected in late summer.

reflected in the parks budget.

The need for the new employees is evident, given the expansion of park facilities, including specialized features such as a splash pad and artificial field turf that are coming to Fairview Park, Barrett said.

“This refines and specializes our operations,” Barrett said. “We want to maintain the parks with a dedicated crew so we don’t sacrifice anything on the traditional Public Works end— the bread and butter like roads and stormwater systems.”

Capital Projects

Park updates, facility construction, road resurfacing and other physical improvements are outlined in a capital improvement plan that is separate from the general operating budget.

The five-year plan guides spending for projects that expand, replace, maintain or improve public assets such as infrastructure, facilities and equipment with a useful life of at least 10 years.

Capital projects use grants, savings, bond issue proceeds and other monetary sources outside of the regular budget. This year, $23 million in potential projects are under consideration. More than half that amount—$12.5 million—is for the municipal center construction. Another $1 million is for planning and design of the community center.

Other capital plan highlights include:

• $5 million for park improvements, including completion of the splash pad and other amenities on the Mayview site at Fairview Park

• $1.5 million for contracted road paving

• $685,000 for public works equipment and salt storage

Many of the capital projects, especially park improvements, are contingent upon, or have received, grant funding.

Revenue

In 2023, revenue includes $839,752 in COVID-19 stimulus money from the American Rescue Plan Act. The amount represents the second half of the township’s $1.7 million total allocation. The first half was listed in the 2022 budget.

The federal government guides how the stimulus funds may be used, and precisely how South Fayette will spend the money is to be determined.

Most of the township’s ongoing revenue stems from real estate tax, earned income tax and local service tax.

As South Fayette continues to experience residential and commercial growth, these revenue streams are expected to keep growing, Barrett said.

“With a stable and growing tax base fueling our future plans, we anticipate being able to keep township millage rates as low as possible," Barrett said.

(Photo courtesy of Kimmel Bogrette Architecture)

See drone footage of construction

How much tax money goes to the township, school & county?

South Fayette property owners pay real estate tax to three separate entities—South Fayette Township, Allegheny County and South Fayette School District.

Township and county taxes each account for 13 percent of a property owner's total property taxes paid.

School taxes are the most expensive, accounting for 74 percent of total property taxes.

South Fayette voters have elected Kevin Biber as the Real Estate Tax Collector to accept tax payments for both the township and the school district. The Allegheny County Treasurer collects county taxes.

Elected officials for each entity set their annual property tax rates.

The five-member Board of Commissioners sets the tax rate for the township government at 4.73 mills, or $473 per $100,000 in assessed value.

Allegheny County Council sets the county rate, which is 4.73 mills—coincidentally the same as the township rate.

The nine-member school board sets the tax rate for the public school district at 26.7 mills, or $2,670 per $100,000.

4.73 mills $473

4.73 mills

$473 per $100,000 assessed value

26.7 mills

$2,670 per $100,000 assessed value

16,722

—Text & infographic by Andrea Iglar

Police officer Mike Blocher patrols Old Oakdale Road (right) and speaks with a driver during a traffic stop on Mohawk Road (below) in December.

The South Fayette Township Police Department has created a dedicated traffic unit to focus on road safety, education and enforcement.

Facing page: A speed limit sign appears in the side mirror of a police vehicle on Old Oakdale Road.

'TRAFFIC EDUCATION'

POLICE DEPARTMENT FORMS TRAFFIC UNIT

TWO OFFICERS DEDICATED FULL-TIME TO ROAD SAFETY

STORY & PHOTOS

BY ANDREA IGLAR

It is morning rush hour, and you are waiting for a red light to change. When you finally get the green, you eagerly pull through.

But traffic is backed up on the other side of the light, and the rear end of your car is jutting into the intersection.

This is when South Fayette police Officer Sawyer Gray might pull you over. Even on a green light, it is illegal to enter an intersection if you can’t fully fit your car on the other side.

“You can’t block the intersection,” Officer Gray said in December, while observing the traffic lights at Washington Pike and Route 50.

“It’s a huge problem, specifically at this intersection.”

Blocking intersections worsens traffic and spurs more motorists to run red lights, which in turn causes more accidents, she said.

Following the rules of the road—

especially in winter weather, when ice and other factors can make driving risky—will help ease gridlock and avoid accidents, she said.

“Just follow the traffic laws, and everybody will get through faster,” Officer Gray said.

KEEPING THE ROADS SAFE

The South Fayette Township Police Department this year assigned two fulltime officers, Gray and Mike Blocher, to a newly formed traffic unit that focuses on enforcing traffic laws seven days a week. The unit also responds to car accidents that involve injuries or towing.

Police Chief John Phoennik said the

community’s growing population—up more than 27% over the past decade— has resulted in greater traffic volumes and, therefore, more accidents.

Recognizing this trend, the township Board of Commissioners gradually has expanded the force to 23 officers, giving the chief enough staffing to create the traffic unit without taking away from regular patrols.

Dedicated traffic officers can focus on problem areas without continual interruptions to answer calls, he said.

“The ultimate goal is keeping the roads as safe as we possibly can,” Chief Phoennik said. “I call it traffic education, not traffic enforcement."

In 2022, the police department issued 1,813 written warnings and 591 traffic citations—representing a 249% increase in traffic stops over the prior year.

Since the two dedicated traffic officers didn’t begin their duties until

“I call it traffic education, not traffic enforcement."

—Police Chief John Phoennik

August and October, the number of traffic stops is expected to total even higher in 2023.

EYEING INSPECTION STICKERS

Traffic officers primarily enforce the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (Title 75), which covers an array of traffic laws, from disobeying a stop sign to failing to hold state-required documents.

Drivers must have a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance and inspection.

Officer Blocher has an eagle eye for expired inspection stickers.

Passing a car on Millers Run Road in December, he spotted an expired windshield safety inspection sticker and turned around to pull over the driver.

At the roadside, he approached the car window with a friendly greeting and clearly stated the reason for the stop.

Returning to the police vehicle with the motorist's registration card and

license, he used a handheld device to scan the cards. The driver’s information immediately displayed on a laptop mounted between the front seats.

In some cases, other information about the driver may pop up as well, such as any outstanding warrants, gun permits or protection from abuse orders.

In this instance, Blocher used the laptop to fill out a warning form, producing it instantly on a small printer mounted to the dashboard.

The warning gave the driver 10 days to take the car to a state-certified mechanic to pass annual inspection.

“That’s why we have inspections in Pennsylvania, so you’re driving a safe vehicle on the roadway,” he said.

DECIDING ON WARNING OR TICKET

Blocher regularly runs license plate numbers with his in-car computer to check for valid registrations.

One day, this activity resulted in

◀ Referring to a driver's license and registration card, South Fayette police Officer Mike Blocher keys information into an in-car laptop during a traffic stop in December.

▼ From left: Officer Blocher leaves a parking spot where he was monitoring the stop signs at the intersection of Old Oakdale Road and Millers Run Road; the school zone reduces the speed limit three times a day near the South Fayette school campus; Officer Blocher holds an AccuTrak speed monitoring device.

▶ Officer Sawyer Gray observes traffic near the intersection of Route 50 and Washington Pike in South Fayette in December.

towing a vehicle operated by someone without a valid license, registration, insurance or inspection.

“I can’t let him drive under all of these circumstances,” Blocher said.

The stop resulted in roughly $1,000 in fines.

But tickets are not moneymakers.

For example, if someone is found guilty of running a stop sign, only $12.50 out of the $157.50 ticket goes to the police department. The remaining fees are distributed to the state, the court system and emergency medical services.

Considering the time and resources expended by local officers to issue a ticket and attend magistrate hearings for contested citations, issuing tickets actually results in a monetary loss.

But the goal isn’t to make money; it’s to educate drivers and make the roads safer, Chief Phoennik said.

“I emphasize to all of our officers that they have discretion whether they

issue a citation or a warning,” he said.

Being nice won’t necessarily get you out of a ticket, but it’s best to be respectful and polite when police pull you over, Officer Gray said.

“I do appreciate when people say, ‘You’re right, I shouldn’t have messed up.’ I don’t like when people argue with me. It’s probably going to turn out better for you if you have a positive attitude,” she said.

Any driver wishing to argue a ticket can request a court hearing with the magistrate. In South Fayette, that’s District Judge Maureen McGrawDesmet.

MEASURING SPEEDS

The school zone in South Fayette drops the speed limit on Old Oakdale Road from 30 mph to 15 mph three times each weekday. The temporary speed limit reduction is indicated by signs and flashing yellow lights.

The slower speed eases the flow of school buses and cars, and it ensures quicker stops in an area that serves numerous children.

Officers sometimes park on South Fayette School District property to clock speeds in the school zone.

Using a calibrated, handheld speed timing device called AccuTrak, they measure how long it takes a vehicle to cross two lines that are painted on the road 117 feet apart, and then use the data to calculate speed.

Police officers monitor speed throughout the township, including in neighborhoods where residents themselves usually are the culprits.

Another speed monitoring method uses ENRADD, or Electronic Non-Radar Device, a wireless device that uses a laser to clock speed.

Officers also may engage in pacing by matching the speed of another vehicle for at least three-tenths of a mile. The

speed reading comes from the police car speedometer, which is routinely calibrated.

Drivers also may be cited for traveling at an unsafe speed when an officer observes a moving vehicle in a situation where any reasonable person would say the speed was excessive, Officer Gray said.

She noted that just because a maximum speed limit is, for example, 35 mph, doesn’t mean a driver must go that fast.

“You must drive what is reasonable for conditions,” she said. “You should only travel as fast as is prudent for the safety of others.”

The police department in South Fayette is among only a handful in the region to have a dedicated traffic unit.

“It goes back to what you can do with your department when you have the officers,” Chief Phoennik said. “We’re fortunate.”

By andrea iglar story & photos

OURNEY OF A LIBRARY BOOK

on a layover between far-flung shelves and your fingertips, borrowed materials are sorted in the west end

Library patrons have 4 million books at their fingertips.

The South Fayette Township Library holds only 20,000 items, but cardholders can request books, magazines, CDs, DVDs and other physical materials from 74 libraries across Allegheny County.

The journey these items take between libraries includes a pit stop at a nondescript, little known hub in the West End of Pittsburgh.

The Library Support Center sorts and distributes materials for the publicly funded libraries of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the Allegheny County Library Association,

including the South Fayette Township Library.

Established in 2004, the sorting and shipping center moves 2.4 million items a year—that’s about 200,000 a month.

“It’s just a ton of stuff,” shipping manager Perry Munyon said.

Thanks to the sorting center, library cardholders can request any item from the entire library network at no charge and have it delivered to the branch of their choice.

Library cards are free.

South Fayette library director Ben Hornfeck said the system allows each library, including those with less storage, to offer more resources to local patrons. South Fayette’s collection size hovers around 19,600 due to space limitations.

“Even if we don’t have the book, we can get it from somewhere else,” he said, adding: “Everyone knows how

expensive things are right now, and the fact that we’re able to keep this service free and keep delivering materials is pretty incredible.”

One afternoon in December, Connie Peltz stopped at the South Fayette circulation desk to pick up a DVD of the “Outlander” television series that she had requested from the library in Upper St. Clair.

In both directions, the materials stopped at the sorting center to be organized for shipment.

Five days a week, eight van drivers on 13 routes pick up materials from libraries and deliver them to the sorting center.

THE regional Support center sorts books for 74 libraries.

One by one, sorting staff remove books from the bins, scan their barcodes into a computer and place them onto a conveyor belt.

She uses the online shared catalog, eiNetwork, about twice a month to request items of interest, such as travel books and movie discs.

“It’s convenient,” Peltz said.

In 2021, South Fayette received 26,391 incoming items borrowed from other libraries, and they shipped out 19,521 items to other libraries.

The computer software retrieves information from the library catalog about the destination of each book and communicates with a room-size, five-arm conveyor belt system.

The sorting machine automatically direct books to bins marked for specific libraries, even stopping at conveyor belt

▲ Library services manager Laura Perrier and shipping manager Perry Munyon oversee the book sorting for 74 regional libraries.

▼ Material services associate Jason Assaf scans incoming books and places them on a conveyor belt of the automatic sorting machine.

See sorting machine in action

intersections to wait for other books to pass.

The machine drops the books into the bins labeled for each of 74 libraries, including South Fayette.

Next, employees move the filled bins to stacks that drivers will deliver to the receiving libraries, where patrons can pick up and check out their requested items.

At first, sorting was a manual process. Nowadays, the automated system makes the process quick and efficient so that a patron often receives a requested, available item within one or two business days.

Delivery driver Gary S. Cohen delivers daily to the library on Millers Run Road in South Fayette.

“I get a lot of patrons who approach me and thank me for bringing them the books,” Cohen said. “To see their joy from getting the books is sort of gratifying.”

Laura Perrier, the library services manager in charge of materials movement in the West End, said the shared service improves equity throughout the county by ensuring greater

access to materials for all cardholders.

“They don’t have to go to Main Library in Oakland, or they don’t have to go hunt for parking Downtown,” she said. “They can get things at their convenience, at their location, and I think that is really important.”

The sorting center receives state money, plus funding from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, which includes 20 libraries, and the Allegheny County Regional Asset District, which supports 54 libraries in the Allegheny County Library Association. The library consortium lets cardholders check out books directly from any library in the Allegheny County system and return books to any of those libraries.

Hornfeck said being able to share materials is a big boost to the local community.

“By working together, we are able to give more resources to the people who live in South Fayette," he said.

South Fayette Township Library: 515 Millers Run Road: 412-257-8660; southfayettelibrary.org

◀

▲ In the five-bay garage of the sorting center, drivers load bins of books into vans for delivery to libraries across Allegheny County.

▶ Top: Sorting center employee Hunter Wolas, foreground, tidies books that are being automatically sorted into bins for 74 regional libraries.

eight van drivers on 13 routes pick up and deliver library materials.

Gary S. Cohen delivers bins of books to clerk Lynne Cochran at the South Fayette Township Library in December. The materials are shipped from other libraries at the request of South Fayette library cardholders.

▶ Bottom: South Fayette library clerk Lynne Cochran chats with township resident Connie Peltz, who is checking out a DVD that was shipped in from the library in Upper St. Clair.

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We truly value our place in the South Fayette community and strive to make a positive impact in all the areas we serve. We invite you to stop by and see why we have been the bank people have trusted for generations.

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Photos by Daniel Thompson Photography

in partnership with the south fayette police dept, the 2nd annual race at fairview park oct 30, 2022, raised more than $10,000 for the FBI NATIONAL academy ASSOCIATES Western PA Chapter and St jude's children's research hospital

Accessible Hunt South Fayette Township

And the 1st place winners were ...

ADULT Female - Meghan McNabb

ADULT male - Chris Paskie

youth FEMALE - Lucca Gigante

YOUTH MALE - Camden Callahan

IN OCTOBER 2022, eight hunters WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES And 50+ volunteers enjoyed three days of sunshine in the outdoorS. two deer were harvested

SOUTH FAYETTE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SOUTH FAYETTE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Ages: 3 - 15 years old

Cost Range: $75 - $150

Seasons: SPRING: Mid-March to Early June; FALL: Late August to Early October

Season: Mid-March

Early June (GIRLS & BOYS; 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U) (GIRLS & BOYS; PRE T-BALL THRU PONY) S O U T H F A Y E T T E B A S E B A L L & S O F T B A L L A S S O C I A T I O N S O U T H F A Y E T T E B A S E B A L L & S O F T B A L L A S S O C I A T I O N (GIRLS & BOYS; IN-HOUSE AND TRAVEL)

Registration Link: leagues.bluesombrero.com/sfbsa

Questions: sfbsa2@gmail.com

S P O R T S G E N E R A L S E A S O N & R E G I S T R A T I O N I N F O R M A T I O N S P O R T S G E N E R A L S E A S O N & R E G I S T R A T I O N I N F O R M A T I O N S O U T H F A Y E T T E Y O U T H L A C R O S S E A S S O C I A T I O N S O U T H F A Y E T T E Y O U T H L A C R O S S E A S S O C I A T I O N

*optional indoor January - February

Questions: southfayetteyouthlacrosse@gmail.com

S O U T H F A Y E T T E S O C C E R A S S O C I A T I O N S O U T H F A Y E T T E S O C C E R A S S O C I A T I O N Birth Year: 2009 - 2018; TRAVEL: U10 & up Cost Range: $60 - $90 Seasons: SPRING: Mid-March to Early June; FALL: Late August - Early October

Questions: southfayettesoccer@gmail.com

S O U T H F A Y E T T E Y O U T H F O O T B A L L A S S O C I A T I O N S O U T H F A Y E T T E Y O U T H F O O T B A L L A S S O C I A T I O N

Grades: TACKLE: Kindergarten - 6th grade; FLAG: Kindergarten - 4th grade

Cost Range: TACKLE: $175; FLAG: $100 (plus uniforms and other fees for both)

Season: August to Early November

Registration Link: leagues.bluesombrero.com/sfyouthfootball

S O U T H F A Y E T T E Y O U T H C H E E R L E A D I N G A S S O C I A T I O N S O U T H F A Y E T T E Y O U T H C H E E R L E A D I N G A S S O C I A T I O N

grade

Cost Range: $180 (plus required

Now Diamond Sponsor ◆ Touch-a-Truck ◆ Thank you! Diamond Sponsor ◆ Bunny Hop Trail ◆ Thank you!

All information is subject to change. South Fayette Connect | Winter 2023 | 33

WINTER / EARLY SPRING 2023

SOUTH FAYETTE PARKS & REC PROGRAM GUIDE

SENIORS FOR SAFE DRIVING

SFBFITNESS

K e t t l e b e l l W e d n e s d a y n i g h t s @ 6 : 3 0 P M

C a r d i o K i c k s & S t i c k s T h u r s d a y m o r n i n g s @ 9 : 0 0 A M

S o u t h F a y e t t e / C u d d y F i r e H a l l

$ 1 2 / c l a s s

$ 5 5 / 5 - c l a s s p u n c h c a r d

$ 8 4 / 8 - c l a s s p u n c h c a r d

$ 1 2 0 / 1 2 - c l a s s p u n c h c a r d

2 0

C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S E V E N T S

E A S T E R

E V E N T

WEEK OF APRIL 24

TOWNSHIP-WIDE

M O V I E I N

T H E P A R K

TUESDAY, JULY 4

9:30 PM | FAIRVIEW PARK

T O U C H - A

- T R U C K

FRIDAY, JULY 21

@ DUSK | FAIRVIEW PARK

C O N C E R T I N

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

TIME TBD | FAIRVIEW PARK

E A R T H

C L E A N U P

FRIDAY, JUNE 16

@ DUSK | FAIRVIEW PARK

J U L Y 4

F I R E W O R K S

SUNDAY, JULY 16

11 AM - 3 PM | FAIRVIEW PARK

M O V I E I N

T H E P A R K

T H E P A R K SUMMER

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11

@ DUSK | FAIRVIEW PARK

C O M M U N I T Y D A Y

SEPTEMBER

DATE TBD | FAIRVIEW PARK

M O V I E I N

T H E P A R K

OCTOBER 19, 20 & 21

ALL DAY | VARIOUS LOCATIONS

DATE TBD | FAIRVIEW PARK

M O V I E I N

T H E P A R K

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

11 AM - 5 PM | FAIRVIEW PARK

M O V I E I N

T H E P A R K

OCTOBER

DATE TBD | FAIRVIEW PARK

A C C E S S I B L E H U N T

2 3 M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N @

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

6 PM - 9 PM | FAIRVIEW PARK DATES

S O U T H F A Y E T T E P A . C O M

THURSDAYS

❷⓿❷❸ Trash and Recycling Service Days

South Fayette Township

RD MEADE ST

BURSCA DR MEADOW DR

CAMPBELL AVE

MEETING HOUSE RD

CECIL-REISING RD MELROSE CT

CENTRAL AVE MILL CT

CHARLES ST

MORNING WIND CIR

CHARTIERS RUN NICOLE DR

CHERRY ST

OLD OAK DR

CHRISMAR CT OLDE ORCHARD DR

CHRISTINE CT OPEN MEADOW CIR

CLEARFORK RD ORION RD

CLUBVIEW DR

PALOMINO DR

COAL PIT RUN RD PARKS RD

COUNTY LINE RD

PARKS FARM DR

CRANFORD LN PARKSIDE DR

CREEK ST

DAVID DR

PENN AVE

PHEASANT RISE CT

DEER WATCH RD PINCH RD

EMPIRE DR

ENERGY DR

PINEWOOD DR

PITCOTE LN

ENFIELD CT POND CT N

FAIRVIEW DR POND CT S

FAWCETT CHURCH RD

FIELDCREST DR

FIRETHORN RD

POPLAR LN

PORTMAN LN

PRESTON WAY

FIRWOOD DR PRESERVE LN

FORTUNE CT

FOX CHASE CT

FREEDOM DR N

FREEDOM DR S

FRYES LN

GANDER CIR

GARDEN APT DR

RAILROAD ST

RAVENWOOD DR

WINESAP CT GRANITE DR

WOODHAVEN DR

GRANT CIR

GRANVILLE CT

GROMWELL LN

172-577 HICKORY GRADE

HICKORY HEIGHTS DR

HIDDEN VALLEY LN

HIGHLAND CREEK DR

HIGHPOINT DR

PINCH RD EXT

PINE CREEK DR

PINE VALY DR

PINNACLE CT

PINNACLE DR

POINTVIEW DR

PRESTO-SYGAN RD

PRINCETON DR

RAHNER-WOOD DR

ADULLAM DR

ALEXANDER ST

ANDERSON AVE

APPLE BLOSSOM DR

APPLE RIDGE RD

APPLEGLEN CT

ARLINGTON AVE

ASHFORD CT

HINSDALE LN

HOOK ST

HUDSON AVE

INTERLAKEN DR

INTERLAKEN EXT

JACKSON CIR

JONAGOLD DR

KENNEWEG AVE

AUGUSTA DR KINGSBROOK DR

BALSINGER RD KINGSTON DR

BANCROFT LN

BATTERY DR N

KINGSWOOD LN

KRISTOFF LN

BATTERY DR S LAFAYETTE DR

BATTLE RIDGE RD

BAYHILL DR

BEECH AL

BELLE TERRE CT

BERKLEY RIDGE DR

BIRCH CT

REDROME CIR E BLUFF ST

REDROME CIR W

BLYTHE RD

RICHARD ALY BOYS HOME RD

RIDGE POINT CIR

RIGERTS HILL RD

BRANDYWINE CIR

BRANDYWINE CT

GARDEN LANDING RUSSETS CIR E CALEDONIA CT

GLADWELL ST

RUSSETS CIR W

GOLDENROD CT RYELAND CT

GOODWIN ALY

GRANT ST

SADDLEWOOD DR

SCHOOL ST

CANNONGATE DR

CECIL-STURGEON RD

CELEBRATION CIR

CEMETERY HILL RD

LANESBORO LN

LEE CIR

LEE ST

LENOX LN

LOCUST LN

LONGVIEW CIR

LYNNVIEW DR

MAGNOLIA ST

MAIN ST

MAIN ST EXT

MAPLE CT

MARBLESEED LN

MARLEY WAY

MARSHALL RD

MARTHA ST

MASSARO PL

REED ST

REVOLUTION CIR

RIDGE RD

RIDGEVIEW DR

ROBINSON RUN RD

ROWE LN

RUTH WAY

RUTHERGLEN DR

SANDSTONE DR

SATURDAY WAY

SCOTCH HILL RD

SECOND AVE

SEMINARY AVE

SHALE DR

SHEFFIELD CT

SHERMAN CIR

SHERMAN ST

SHERWOOD DR

SIXTH AVE

SOUTH FAYETTE ST

SOUTH POINT CT

SOUTHPOINTE DR

SOUTHWEST DR

STATION ST

STEEN HOLLOW RD

STERLING DR

STOCKBRIDGE CT

STUART CIR

SUNRIDGE

Feb.

Thurs. Feb. 2 Fri. Feb. 3

Trash Collection

Thurs. Feb. 9 Fri. Feb. 10

Trash Collection Recycling

Thurs. Feb. 16 Fri. Feb. 17

Trash Collection

Thurs. Feb. 23 Fri. Feb. 24

Trash Collection Recycling

TRASH & RECYCLING

Garbage is collected weekly and recycling every 2 weeks. Place at the curb by 6 AM on pickup day. If a holiday falls on a weekday before pickup day, collection is delayed one day. Do not bag recyclables. No glass in recycling bins.

Waste Management wm.com ◆ 1-800-866-4460

March

Thurs. March 2

March 3 Trash Collection Thurs. March 9

April

Thurs. April 6 Fri. April 7

Trash Collection Recycling

Thurs. April 13

Fri. April 14

Trash Collection

Thurs. April 20

Fri. April 21

Trash Collection Recycling

Thurs. April 27

Fri. April 28

Trash Collection

South Fayette Township

515 Millers Run Road, South Fayette PA 15064

412-221-8700

SouthFayettePA.com

Staff Directory

John M. Barrett, Township Manager

Administration

Peggy Patterson, Executive Assistant

Shannen McKahan, Finance Officer

Patrick J. Catena, Assistant Manager

Communications & Community Development

Andrea Iglar, Director

Planning, Building & Code

Gary Hartz, Planning/Zoning Director

Joe Niedermeyer, Building Code Official

John Kanaskie, Engineering/Code

Abbey Scheerer, Administrative Assistant

Parks & Recreation

Paula Willis, Director

Ian McNeill, Recreation Coordinator

Police

John R. Phoennik, Chief of Police

Dana Korbe, Administrative Assistant

Police Business Office: 412-221-2170

Emergency & Dispatch: 9-1-1

Public Works

Vitali Alexandrov, Director Dan Dernosek, Superintendent

Community Resources

South Fayette Township Library

412-257-8660, SouthFayetteLibrary.org

South Fayette Area Senior Citizens Association

412-221-3730, SouthFayettePA.com/seniors

South Fayette School District 412-221-4542, SouthFayette.org

Historical Society of South Fayette Township

sfhistory3@aol.com, SouthFayettePA.com/history

Tax Collectors

Real Estate Tax, Kevin Biber: 412-221-9250, SouthFayettePA.com/tax

Earned Income Tax, Jordan Tax Service: 412-835-5243, JordanTax.com

Municipal Authority (Dye Tests & Sanitary Sewers)

412-257-5100, MATSF.net

Trash Collection

Trash, Recycling & Reuse Info

Chambers of Commerce

South West: 412-221-4100, SouthWestCommunitiesChamber.org

Pittsburgh Airport Area: 412-264-6270, PAACC.com

Volunteer Fire Departments in South Fayette

Cuddy, Fairview, Oak Ridge, Sturgeon: SouthFayettePA.com/fire

Police, Fire, Ambulance: 9-1-1

PROHIBITED IN BINS:

NO Glass Bottles & Containers

Plastic Bottles, Jars & Jugs (#1 and #2)

Flattened Cardboard & Paperboard

NO Foam

Paper

Brown paper bags, newspapers, magazines, non-confidential office paper (NO shredded paper)

RECYCLE: GARBAGE GUIDELINES

Food & Beverage Cans

Steel, tin and aluminum cans

NO Plastic Bags

PICKUP TIME

• Place garbage at the curb before 6 AM on your scheduled collection day.

• The same pickup time is NOT guaranteed each week.

S SIZE

• Trash must be secured in containers of 40 gallons or less or in tied plastic bags, with each can or bag weighing no more than 50 pounds each.

• Do not exceed 15 bags or cans per week.

B BULK ITEMS

• Each household is permitted to place 2 bulk items per week at the curb.

• Bulk items may include furniture, appliances (without Freon), household goods and disassembled swing sets cut in 4-foot lengths.

• Carpet must be rolled and tied in lengths not to exceed 4 feet.

P PAINT

• Empty paint cans and dried paint are acceptable. Paint can be air-dried or soaked up with newspaper or cat litter. Lids should be left off.

Y YARD WASTE

• For regular trash pickup, grass clippings and yard waste should be in plastic bags. For special yard waste collections, which are held in spring and fall, material must be in biodegradable paper bags.

P PROHIBITED ITEMS IN CURBSIDE GARBAGE

• TVs, computers and electronics

• Appliances containing Freon

• Building/renovation/construction materials

• Hazardous household waste (cleaners, pesticides, wet paint, etc.)

• Auto parts

• Ashes, stones, dirt

• Trees, branches, bushes

South Fayette Township

2023 Collection Schedule

Trash is collected weekly. Recycling is collected every other week. Collection normally is Thursday or Friday, depending on your street. Pickup is delayed one day when an observed holiday falls on a weekday. Recyclables must be inside recycling cart. Do not bag recyclables. Glass is not accepted in recycling bins Details: SouthFayettePA.com/recycle