Local News
Budget OK’d; borough tightens belt
GREENVILLE — In a five-minute meeting Tuesday, Greenville council members adopted a proposed 2010 budget of $2,980,097.
Property taxes will stay at 31.5 mills and council President Pete Longiotti advised several newly elected council members in attendance to study the budget so they “know what’s coming.”
Greenville has the highest property tax rates in Mercer County and council members have proposed keeping earned income tax rates above the state standard of 1 percent.
Borough officials will have to get court permission to keep those taxes at their current rates of 1.65 percent for residents and 1.42 percent for non-residents.
Greenville is allowed to ask for higher earned income tax rates because of its Act 47 status as a financially distressed community. Greenville has been in the state’s debt recovery plan since 2002.
The court hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 10 before Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas R. Dobson, Longiotti said.
Council members also agreed to advertise a 3 percent increase for sewer rates to coincide with a proposed 3 percent hike for water rates in 2010.
Council member Dr. Henry M. Mueller and council vice president Pamela S. Auchter were absent.
The borough’s new public services director, Scott Graubard, formerly of the Cayman Islands, was introduced. The newly-created position oversees the public works and sewer departments and future duties may include some management of area recreation, council members have said.
After the meeting, Longiotti said there are at least 12 applications for borough manager and the deadline to submit one is Dec. 9.
Ryan T. Eggleston’s last day on the job was Nov. 6 and he now works as city manager of Oil City. He was Greenville’s borough manager since June 2006.
Longiotti, whose term ends Dec. 31, said his last budget as a council member is balanced but it was hard to work out.
“We had to reduce a lot of expenses,” said Longiotti, who’s been on council since 2002. He didn’t seek re-election this year.
A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. Assessments are the 1970 market value. At 31.5 mills, a home assessed at $15,000 carries a property tax bill of $473. One mill brings the borough about $36,800.
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League sets debate date; Dahlkemper ad questioned
Local political junkies, mark your calendars.
Third District Congressional rivals Kathy Dahlkemper and Mike Kelly will face off at a League of Woman Voters of Mercer County forum from 7 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Sharon City Building.
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Are you going to Stoneboro Fair?
“I want some fries, straight off the bat,” a teen said as she strolled amid a seemingly endless stream of people running from the parking lot to the midway Saturday at the Stoneboro Fairgrounds.
The aroma of scrumptious fair food wafted through the fairgrounds on a cool afternoon that felt more like autumn than the waning days of summer.
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Court backs warrantless search that turned up gun
Superior Court issued a ruling recently that the Mercer County District Attorney believes will enhance the safety of policemen and women.
The court ruled Aug. 26 in a Mercer County Juvenile Court case that stemmed from an arrest made by Southwest Mercer County Regional police. -
Hood surfer back home, recovering
Natalie Huff, the 17-year-old girl critically hurt in a hood-surfing accident, made it home Friday for the first time since she was run over by a friend’s car last month.
David Huff, Natalie’s father, said she was in excellent spirits.
“She just wants to come home,” he said. “She wants out of the hospital. She’s doing really well.”
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Kelly: Jobs are the key to restoring economy
When businesses are healthy, they hire people, and everyone wins, according to Congressional candidate Mike Kelly
The Republican challenger announced his “Pathways to Prosperity” job plan Friday in time for Labor Day weekend at JFS Wealth Advisors in Hermitage. He also made stops in Butler, Crawford, and Erie counties.
Kelly, who faces U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, Erie, D-3rd District in November, said he’s been up and down the county and hears about two concerns: jobs and the economy.
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Couple restoring a local landmark
The gardens were renowned and the house was a resting stop for future presidents.
Now, Dan Briceland and his wife Kristin are restoring the structure at 379 state Route 7 in Brookfield to its original glory.
Built in 1816 by Navy Capt. James Christy, the dilapidated house went up for sale this spring. The Bricelands, who have always wanted to restore an historic house, put in a bid and won.
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Cleanup planned for 2nd city neighborhood
The Irvine Avenue cleanup in Sharon was so successful that similar efforts are being planned for another part of the city.
The Sharon Beautification Commission is organizing a cleanup for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 2 for Meek Street and several surroundings streets, Sharon City Manager Tom Lavorini told council Thursday.
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Lock up vehicles, police urge
Residents should be alert for suspicious activity and keep their cars and homes locked in the wake of a recent rash of thefts from cars — some of which were left unlocked, Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Chief Riley Smoot said.
The most recent thefts were reported Wednesday in the Dogwood Lane, Oak Hill Drive and Kiwanis Road area of West Middlesex.
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Blue Streak thrills again
“It was great. What else can I say?” Dave Hahner said Thursday, just moments after taking his second ride on the Blue Streak.
That’s right. For the first time since 2006, Conneaut Lake Park’s historic roller coaster is back up and running. Once again ready, as Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, put it, “to bring thrills and chills to children of all ages.”
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3 Ohio men in county jail accused of Walmart theft ring
Three Ohio men are in Mercer County Jail for allegedly running a theft ring that stole video games and systems from Walmart stores and then sold them for cash.
Thomas “Tommy” Hamilton, 42, of Ashtabula; Alex Plitt, 34, of Jefferson; and Christopher Patton, 25, address unknown, were caught Aug. 25 after hitting up Walmart stores in Ohio and Pennsylvania for at least several months, Hempfield Township patrolman Daniel McCloskey said Wednesday.
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League sets debate date; Dahlkemper ad questioned
