Last year, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office got funding to study the effectiveness of using GPS technology to track sex offenders. After the six-eight month study, Stephen Zappala, Allegheny County District Attorney called the study a success and spoke of plans to move forward with plans to permanently place GPS bracelets on offenders.
In the study 45 men had the GPS placed on them. There were two incidences, one man who immediately cut the bracelet and ran, another man who was found hanging around children at The Century III Mall. The others did not cause any problems said Zappala.
The study was carried out by Red Five Security, based in Alexandria, Virginia. A third group was brought in to watch the moves of those under surveillance and ensure that they did not go into areas where they were prohibited to go such as schools or senior centers, based on what their offenses had been.
Sex offenders will be targeted first, then violent offenders then deadbeat dads. "Judges routinely release deadbeat dads from prison because they have made a promise to the court to the families who released them that they are going to support their families, support their children. Routinely we are seeing that they do not do that," said Zappala, "If your not at your place of work for that period that your supposed to be there then we'll put you back in jail and take somebody else thats worth taking a chance on that's going to take care of their obligations to their family."
Red Five Security said they will release the final report to the District Attorney's office in the next 30 days. Kris Coleman, President of the group called it "successful," and told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that it is up to the county to ensure vigilance of the offenders after they are outfitted with the bracelets.
There are more than 1100 registered sex offenders in Allegheny County. Zappala said the bracelets would not be a violation of their civil liberties because of the nature of the crimes committed.
Showing posts with label Allegheny County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allegheny County. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Steelworkers and Rich Fitzgerald Join Forces
At Steelworker headquarters this morning, union head Leo Gerard reiterated support for Rich Fitzgerald as the Democratic nominee for Allegheny County Executive, saying he would continue the work Dan Onorato has done to keep taxes down and support for working families high.
Fitzgerald’s opponent Mark Patrick Flaherty has proposed a public-private partnership between the county and companies drilling for natural gas on county land, which would use $4 billion of county assets to secure a higher yield than typical fees and royalties.
Fitzgerald calls the idea a “Republican” subsidy that could be lost if wells come up empty or the price of gas makes drilling unprofitable. As a drilling partner, Fitzgerald says the county would be liable in case of accident or death, and all of these risks would jeopardize the county’s bond rating.
He also questions whether the county could fulfill its role in protecting public health and the environment if it were a drilling partner.
The proper role of government vis-a-vis the natural gas resource, according to Fitzgerald, is to maximize the public benefit through an extraction tax and making sure the industry compensates for the cost of their operations. He says most companies know that would be fair. If done right, he says there will be many jobs created and no need to risk taxpayer funds.
Fitzgerald says the county added 24,000 private sector jobs last year, and the unemployment rate is 2-1/2% below the national average and has been for 38 straight months--the longest stretch since the 1930s.
Leo Gerard says Rich Fitzgerald was an easy choice for the Steelworkers’ endorsement because as president of County Council, he was current County Executive Dan Onorato’s right hand man. Gerard says he wishes Dan Onorato were governor. What's needed at the end of this worst recession since the Depression, according to Gerard, are jobs--not subsidies to an industry already rolling in money
Friday, April 29, 2011
County Executive Candidate Presents Plan for More Transparency
Rich Fitzgerald, former Allegheny County Council President and candidate for County Executive, presented his plan for an "Online Checkbook" that would allow the public to monitor expenses in county departments. The website would display what checks the county has issued, the amount of the payments, and who received them.
Fitzgerald says that this is a proactive measure to create transparency. "People today with tax dollars want to know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely. We have to account for every single dollar that we spend...but this is a way for the public to easily track the dollars without having to trapse downtown and go into the courthouse and go through the records."
Rich Fitzgerald says that this is something he believes he can do as policy if he is elected County Executive, but also would not be bothered if County Council approval is needed. He says Council has a track record of creating transparency and streamlining government, and they showed that by streamlining 9-11 services, reducing council staff and not increasing property taxes.
Fitzgerald says that this is a proactive measure to create transparency. "People today with tax dollars want to know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely. We have to account for every single dollar that we spend...but this is a way for the public to easily track the dollars without having to trapse downtown and go into the courthouse and go through the records."
Rich Fitzgerald says that this is something he believes he can do as policy if he is elected County Executive, but also would not be bothered if County Council approval is needed. He says Council has a track record of creating transparency and streamlining government, and they showed that by streamlining 9-11 services, reducing council staff and not increasing property taxes.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
County Finances Analyzed
Allegheny County Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty released the 2010 County Financial Plan on Tuesday. The plan details the county;s financial condition for the year ending on December 31, 2010 and has financial predictions for 2011.
The report says the county's operating fund expenditures grew by 15 million last year mostly due to debt service, personnel costs and more money to subsidize child welfare services. He said he had a three part plan for correcting the county's budget problems 1- Being more realistic in making revenue projections 2- expenditures should match actual revenues and 3- cost controls have to be strictly enforced throughout the year to keep expenses in line with the approved budget.
Flaherty, who is running for county executive says county officials have been mortgaging the future by using capital funds and one-time revenue sources to pay for current expenses.
He says the county has been using capital reimbursements to pay for items and that it is not a sustainable way to make ends meet.
The report says the county's operating fund expenditures grew by 15 million last year mostly due to debt service, personnel costs and more money to subsidize child welfare services. He said he had a three part plan for correcting the county's budget problems 1- Being more realistic in making revenue projections 2- expenditures should match actual revenues and 3- cost controls have to be strictly enforced throughout the year to keep expenses in line with the approved budget.
Flaherty, who is running for county executive says county officials have been mortgaging the future by using capital funds and one-time revenue sources to pay for current expenses.
He says the county has been using capital reimbursements to pay for items and that it is not a sustainable way to make ends meet.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Allegheny: 42nd Healthiest County in PA
What's billed as the most comprehensive report of its kind ranks the overall health of nearly every county in all 50 states. The second annual "County Health Rankings" report from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is intended to give communities a roadmap to improve health.
The report looks at health outcomes: the rate of people dying before age 75; the percent of people who report being in fair or poor health; the number of days people report being in poor physical or mental health; and, the rate of low-birthweight babies.
The rankings also look at 4 categories of factors that impact health: health behavior (including smoking, drinking, teen birth rates), clinical care (including uninsured adults, primary care providers and diabetic screening) , social and economic factors (including unemployment, children in poverty, crime rate) and physical environment (air pollution and access to recreational facilities).
In Pennsylvania, Union County has the healthiest residents and Philadelphia is the least healthy county in the state. Allegheny County is 42nd among the 67 counties, an improvement from the 2010 report when it ranked 48th.
Bridget Booske is a senior scientist with the institute and deputy director of the County Health Rankings project...."When I look at Allegheny County, there's a high percentage of low-birthweight babies (8.6% compared to the national benchmark of 6%) than elsewhere. Other factors, like smoking and obesity, Allegheny is pretty much running about average, but average in Pennsylvania doesn't necessarily mean there's not a whole lot of improvement that can take place there."
Booske says that set a national benchmark of a 90th percentile where only 10% of the counties had healthier numbers in those categories because they believe improvement to reach that top 10% "is attainable."
Allegheny County exceeds the national benchmark in the category of health coverage with 11% of uninsured adults compared to the national figure of 13%.
Booske says it's not unusual to have neighboring counties with wide-ranging rankings. While Allegheny County is number 42, Fayette is 63rd, Greene-65th and Cambria is 64th; while Butler is number 11, Indiana is 17 and Westmoreland is 20th...
"Where we live, learn, work and play does really matter across the state."
Booske adds that improvements can be made through policy, through community programs and in individual homes..."Health is everyone's business. There is something we each can do. It's good for all of us to live in healthier economies. It's good for the economy to be healthy."
The report looks at health outcomes: the rate of people dying before age 75; the percent of people who report being in fair or poor health; the number of days people report being in poor physical or mental health; and, the rate of low-birthweight babies.
The rankings also look at 4 categories of factors that impact health: health behavior (including smoking, drinking, teen birth rates), clinical care (including uninsured adults, primary care providers and diabetic screening) , social and economic factors (including unemployment, children in poverty, crime rate) and physical environment (air pollution and access to recreational facilities).
In Pennsylvania, Union County has the healthiest residents and Philadelphia is the least healthy county in the state. Allegheny County is 42nd among the 67 counties, an improvement from the 2010 report when it ranked 48th.
Bridget Booske is a senior scientist with the institute and deputy director of the County Health Rankings project...."When I look at Allegheny County, there's a high percentage of low-birthweight babies (8.6% compared to the national benchmark of 6%) than elsewhere. Other factors, like smoking and obesity, Allegheny is pretty much running about average, but average in Pennsylvania doesn't necessarily mean there's not a whole lot of improvement that can take place there."
Booske says that set a national benchmark of a 90th percentile where only 10% of the counties had healthier numbers in those categories because they believe improvement to reach that top 10% "is attainable."
Allegheny County exceeds the national benchmark in the category of health coverage with 11% of uninsured adults compared to the national figure of 13%.
Booske says it's not unusual to have neighboring counties with wide-ranging rankings. While Allegheny County is number 42, Fayette is 63rd, Greene-65th and Cambria is 64th; while Butler is number 11, Indiana is 17 and Westmoreland is 20th...
"Where we live, learn, work and play does really matter across the state."
Booske adds that improvements can be made through policy, through community programs and in individual homes..."Health is everyone's business. There is something we each can do. It's good for all of us to live in healthier economies. It's good for the economy to be healthy."
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tea Party Head Announces County Exec. Bid
Local tea party organizer Patti Weaver has officially thrown her hat into the ring, the first of several Republicans expected to vie for the Allegheny County Executive’s office.
Weaver, a Harvard M.B.A., says her first priority would be to create jobs. She says she’d do this by making a better environment for business, including a possible change in the tax code and the “responsible development” of natural gas resources on County land.
The Fox Chapel native says she also wants to reduce County spending.
“Under Dan Onorato’s administration, the County is operated at a loss, the pension funding at 58%. He’s tarnished our credit rating, he’s taken on debt of $20 million, and he’s increased our taxes by initiating the drink tax,” says Weaver. “We could easily cut our spending by 10%.”
Weaver created the local tea party movement last year and has led it since then, but she’s quoted by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review as saying she’ll step down now that she’s a candidate.
Weaver also has the support of Allegheny County Republican Chairman Jim Roddey, a former County Executive.
In addition to Weaver, County Councilmen Chuck McCullough and Matt Drozd are expected to enter the Republican primary race, along with Mt. Lebanon commissioner and businessman D. Raja.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Reassessment on Time Despite Controversy
Officials say the Allegheny County property reassessment is on schedule and should be finished by January of 2012.
Despite County Council’s efforts to block the property reassessment, the process itself remains timely. That’s according to County Director of Administration Tim Johnson, who says his group is almost finished collecting data from the county’s 570,000 properties – which is the bulk of the work.
"The next phase, we're looking at more of the modeling of neighborhoods and cost calibration and valuing land and whatnot, and much of that is research-based and moves much more quickly."
The “data collection phase” began early in 2010 and figures to be finished in the next few months. Johnson says the County should be releasing preliminary property values by July. After a review process, final property values are scheduled for release next January.
Members of County Council have asked Governor Tom Corbett and the legislature to stop the reassessment, saying it’s unfair to single out Allegheny County when other counties use old data.
Despite County Council’s efforts to block the property reassessment, the process itself remains timely. That’s according to County Director of Administration Tim Johnson, who says his group is almost finished collecting data from the county’s 570,000 properties – which is the bulk of the work.
"The next phase, we're looking at more of the modeling of neighborhoods and cost calibration and valuing land and whatnot, and much of that is research-based and moves much more quickly."
The “data collection phase” began early in 2010 and figures to be finished in the next few months. Johnson says the County should be releasing preliminary property values by July. After a review process, final property values are scheduled for release next January.
Members of County Council have asked Governor Tom Corbett and the legislature to stop the reassessment, saying it’s unfair to single out Allegheny County when other counties use old data.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Rich Fitzgerald to run for County Executive
Allegheny County Council President and Squirrel Hill resident Rich Fitzgerald announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for County Executive this morning in the courtyard of the Allegheny County Courthouse, joining County Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty, who announced earlier this month .
Fitzgerald has already lined up a lot of endorsements, including Congressman Mike Doyle, who emceed the event and says Fitzgerald has shown tremendous ability to work with others to accomplish good things for the region.
Other support came from members of the the state house and senate, city and county councils, labor unions, and more than 50 Democratic precinct chairmen.
Fitzgerald says Western Pennsylvania will be the energy capital of the world and he, a mechanical engineer, will make jobs a priority, along with responsible development of resources like the Marcellus Shale.
Fitzgerald will resign from County Council in a matter of weeks. This will be his first county-wide candidacy.
Fitzgerald has already lined up a lot of endorsements, including Congressman Mike Doyle, who emceed the event and says Fitzgerald has shown tremendous ability to work with others to accomplish good things for the region.
Other support came from members of the the state house and senate, city and county councils, labor unions, and more than 50 Democratic precinct chairmen.
Fitzgerald says Western Pennsylvania will be the energy capital of the world and he, a mechanical engineer, will make jobs a priority, along with responsible development of resources like the Marcellus Shale.
Fitzgerald will resign from County Council in a matter of weeks. This will be his first county-wide candidacy.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Allegheny Earns Respected Land Trust Accreditation
The Allegheny Land Trust was recently awarded accredited status by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, becoming one of 113 land trusts nationally, a very exclusive group. Allegheny’s is one of only 10 accredited trusts in the state.
“It gives us a sense of confidence that what we’re doing here at Allegheny Land Trust we’re doing at a high professional level and we’re doing everything we need to do to make sure the land that we protect is protected forever,” Executive Director Roy Kraynyk says.
The Trust took part in a rigorous examination in which they met with consultants to determine if they were meeting national standards. The accreditation commission looks for excellence in upholding the public trust and ensuring that conservation efforts are permanent.
“If someone knocks on our door and says, ‘Hey I have some land here that I would like to preserve,’ we need to be able to look at that person in the eye and say with confidence and sincerity that ‘Yes, we can do that for you,’” Kraynyk says.
The process involves an extensive review of the management of the organization and the systems it uses to conduct its functions. Kraynyk mentioned that the Allegheny Land Trust updated it’s file keeping system along with its servers in an attempt to create a more sound and efficient workplace.
“One benefit of going through this process would be that now we’ve got procedures and policies and structure and methodology in place that makes our work a little easier,” Kraynyk says.
“It gives us a sense of confidence that what we’re doing here at Allegheny Land Trust we’re doing at a high professional level and we’re doing everything we need to do to make sure the land that we protect is protected forever,” Executive Director Roy Kraynyk says.
The Trust took part in a rigorous examination in which they met with consultants to determine if they were meeting national standards. The accreditation commission looks for excellence in upholding the public trust and ensuring that conservation efforts are permanent.
“If someone knocks on our door and says, ‘Hey I have some land here that I would like to preserve,’ we need to be able to look at that person in the eye and say with confidence and sincerity that ‘Yes, we can do that for you,’” Kraynyk says.
The process involves an extensive review of the management of the organization and the systems it uses to conduct its functions. Kraynyk mentioned that the Allegheny Land Trust updated it’s file keeping system along with its servers in an attempt to create a more sound and efficient workplace.
“One benefit of going through this process would be that now we’ve got procedures and policies and structure and methodology in place that makes our work a little easier,” Kraynyk says.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Call Center Employee Under Investigation
An Allegheny County call center employee is under investigation for an incident that occurred earlier this month on December 11th. A call regarding a fire came in on Overlook Street. Using the electronic software that was installed in the county call center in August, she typed in Overlook and picked the first of the auto-fill-ins that popped up - for Overlook Court. The firefighters were dispatched to Washington's Landing although the fire was in Fineview. The employee realized her mistake and the firetrucks never made it to the mistaken location.
Chef Bob Full, head of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services said there are three streets with the Overlook prefix in the city and eight in the county. This is the second time such an incident with a street name with the Overlook prefix has occurred.
The employee has worked with the call center for more than ten years and is under investigation.
"This has no bearing on the new computerized dispatch system that has been installed since August of this year. There's over 521,000 calls that have been loaded unto that system. This is clearly, whether it had been the new system or this employee back in her days with the city of Pittsburgh 911 center, it would have happened no different," said Full.
Chef Bob Full, head of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services said there are three streets with the Overlook prefix in the city and eight in the county. This is the second time such an incident with a street name with the Overlook prefix has occurred.
The employee has worked with the call center for more than ten years and is under investigation.
"This has no bearing on the new computerized dispatch system that has been installed since August of this year. There's over 521,000 calls that have been loaded unto that system. This is clearly, whether it had been the new system or this employee back in her days with the city of Pittsburgh 911 center, it would have happened no different," said Full.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Hay Day Doubles
Allegheny County has expanded one of its more popular public events. The family friendly event known as Hay Day has been celebrated at Hartwood for decades and the county has decided to expand the event into South Park this year. The celebration at South Park will be held Saturday, October 2, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. at the South Park Fairgrounds. The Hay Day celebration at Hartwood will be held one week later. County spokesperson Megan Dardanell says, “For years, Hay Day has been one of our most popular events at Hartwood, drawing families from around the region. We decided to introduce Hay Day at South Park this year as well to give families another opportunity to enjoy fall activities together.” Among the free activities to be offered will be, crafts, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, and inflatable jumping toys. Dardanell says this year they have also added the “I Made It! Market” where local residents bring in hand made goods for sale. She says most of the items have an environmentally friendly slant. The “Books Are Fun” Book Fair will also be part of the Hay Day festivities. Dardanell says there is also a full line up of music slated for the event.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Allegheny County Joins Energy Saving Program
Thursday, August 19, Allegheny County participated in the PJM Interconnection’s Demand Response Program by reducing their electricity use for an hour-long test.
The purpose of the program is to reduce the use of electricity when heavy demand threatens the PJM electricity grid, which serves 51 million people in 13 states.
The county’s Deputy Director of Operations, Phillip LeMay says PJM Interconnections approached the county to volunteer for this program. “They want more planned participation in building owners to be ready to respond to excessive demand on the electrical grid.” He says PJM has provided incentive for building owners to participate, which is a money reimbursement if they reach their goal.
LeMay says the county court house, county jails, county office building, medical examiner’s office and some detention centers limited their use of electricity from 2 to 3 p.m. He says everyone was very cooperative and believes they’d be prepared for a real event. “Just from an observation perspective I think it was a good success.”
He says they were given a weeks notice to plan the test, but if a real event were to occur they’d be given 24 hours. Limited use of electricity would last from 4 to 6 hours during an actual event.
LeMay says a report with the results will be in some time next week. If they’ve done well, they’ll receive a reward; otherwise, they’ll have to work on the plan. “Once we see the report, we can see where we need to tweak the plan and improve our communication for next time.”
The purpose of the program is to reduce the use of electricity when heavy demand threatens the PJM electricity grid, which serves 51 million people in 13 states.
The county’s Deputy Director of Operations, Phillip LeMay says PJM Interconnections approached the county to volunteer for this program. “They want more planned participation in building owners to be ready to respond to excessive demand on the electrical grid.” He says PJM has provided incentive for building owners to participate, which is a money reimbursement if they reach their goal.
LeMay says the county court house, county jails, county office building, medical examiner’s office and some detention centers limited their use of electricity from 2 to 3 p.m. He says everyone was very cooperative and believes they’d be prepared for a real event. “Just from an observation perspective I think it was a good success.”
He says they were given a weeks notice to plan the test, but if a real event were to occur they’d be given 24 hours. Limited use of electricity would last from 4 to 6 hours during an actual event.
LeMay says a report with the results will be in some time next week. If they’ve done well, they’ll receive a reward; otherwise, they’ll have to work on the plan. “Once we see the report, we can see where we need to tweak the plan and improve our communication for next time.”
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Airport Cuts Energy Usage for One Hour
The Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) took part in a regional energy conservation test program at the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) today from 2 to 3 pm. The energy conservation project is called PJM Demand Response.
Airport Spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny says this is an effort to “lighten the load” on the electric grid in the Northeastern part of the country. She says lights, air conditioning, electric walkways, escalators and other devices will be switched off in some areas of the airport. Ultimately, they’d like to save about 2,000 kilowatts.
Jenny says this will not impact flights and will have minimal affect on passengers and employees. ACAA has implemented a customer service plan for the hour long power outage, such as having extra employees around to help people with disabilities. She says only one train will run to and from terminals, which may cause minor delays.
Jenny says, “It’s a project where if we do meet the amount of energy savings that we set as our goal, there is some financial incentive—we’ll get some type of reimbursement.”
Jenny says several companies are participating in the program in 13 states, with the goal of saving nearly 3,000 megawatts.
Airport Spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny says this is an effort to “lighten the load” on the electric grid in the Northeastern part of the country. She says lights, air conditioning, electric walkways, escalators and other devices will be switched off in some areas of the airport. Ultimately, they’d like to save about 2,000 kilowatts.
Jenny says this will not impact flights and will have minimal affect on passengers and employees. ACAA has implemented a customer service plan for the hour long power outage, such as having extra employees around to help people with disabilities. She says only one train will run to and from terminals, which may cause minor delays.
Jenny says, “It’s a project where if we do meet the amount of energy savings that we set as our goal, there is some financial incentive—we’ll get some type of reimbursement.”
Jenny says several companies are participating in the program in 13 states, with the goal of saving nearly 3,000 megawatts.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Last Large Allegheny County Brownfield to be Developed
Plans announced today for the 168-acre brownfield at the Carrie Furnace site along the Mon River include economic development and inclusion in the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. Opened in 1884, the Carrie blast furnaces produced iron ore to make steel at the Homestead Works until 1982. Allegheny County bought the site in 2005 with 5.75 million federal, state and local dollars.
Already designated National Landmarks, Congressman Mike Doyle has introduced a bill that would make the furnaces a National Historic Site owned and operated by the National Park Service.
Allegheny County will request proposals in the fall for development of the vacant land, to include residential, eco-industrial, and flex office structures, a riverfront trail with connections, and a link to the East Busway in Rankin.
Congressman Doyle says he remembers the incredulity that greeted ambitious development plans years ago at the Homestead Works, but the Waterfront has exceeded all expectations and driven the surrounding communities' economies.
See more pictures of the site on our Facebook page.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Rockwood Amtrak Stop for Bicyclists
Somerset County is conducting a $60,000 feasibility study to determine whether or not an Amtrak station should be placed on the Great Allegheny Passage.
The station would be placed in Rockwood, an area in Somerset County. The Rockwood trail is part of the 150-mile passage, which runs from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C.
Somerset Commissioner Jim Marker says Amtrak requested that this study be done to find out if a Rockwood station would be possible in terms of funding and benefits. “We’re looking for answers regarding what type of platform will you need, what are the dimensions of that?” He says once these questions are answered, an estimate for how much the project will cost can be determined.
He says The Somerset “Rails to Trails” Association donated $5,000 and the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies gave $20,000 towards the cost of the feasibility study. Marker says he and the commissioners applied for a grant from the Department of Transportation to cover the remaining $40,000, which is to be issued in September.
Marker says this will give bicyclists the ability to take the train to a starting point and ride their bike to a destination, or vice versa. He says this would also benefit people who would just like to come in or go out of the Somerset area. “We’re looking for ways to enable bicyclists as well as any citizens to travel about.”
Marker says the train would be available for Capitol Limited riders from Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. It would accommodate bike riders to and from trails as well as take people to venues such as Seven Springs and Hidden Valley resorts.
Marker says this would be the first of its kind in this area. He says it’s been done in places like California and Europe, and has been successful.
He says as of now the only next step is to review the data from the study.
The station would be placed in Rockwood, an area in Somerset County. The Rockwood trail is part of the 150-mile passage, which runs from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C.
Somerset Commissioner Jim Marker says Amtrak requested that this study be done to find out if a Rockwood station would be possible in terms of funding and benefits. “We’re looking for answers regarding what type of platform will you need, what are the dimensions of that?” He says once these questions are answered, an estimate for how much the project will cost can be determined.
He says The Somerset “Rails to Trails” Association donated $5,000 and the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies gave $20,000 towards the cost of the feasibility study. Marker says he and the commissioners applied for a grant from the Department of Transportation to cover the remaining $40,000, which is to be issued in September.
Marker says this will give bicyclists the ability to take the train to a starting point and ride their bike to a destination, or vice versa. He says this would also benefit people who would just like to come in or go out of the Somerset area. “We’re looking for ways to enable bicyclists as well as any citizens to travel about.”
Marker says the train would be available for Capitol Limited riders from Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. It would accommodate bike riders to and from trails as well as take people to venues such as Seven Springs and Hidden Valley resorts.
Marker says this would be the first of its kind in this area. He says it’s been done in places like California and Europe, and has been successful.
He says as of now the only next step is to review the data from the study.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Glitches Cleared Up, Says Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief
After reports of mishaps that caused paramedics to be incorrectly dispatched, Allegheny County says they have worked out most of the glitches in their recently upgraded 911 Call Center.
Bob Full, Emergency Services Chief for the county said at a press conference on Monday that the main problem was that only about 70 percent of the common names for streets and intersections were transferred over to the new computerized mapping system. Locations where incidents might occur that did not have addresses had to have addresses created for them or transferred over from the old system making it easier for dispatchers to immediately leave for and arrive at a location.
The system was upgraded on Sunday, August 8th. Full said they chose to switch over then because August is a slower month.
The new system has been years in the making. Full said it is an improvement over the old system and utilizes employee effectiveness. The system cost 10 million dollars.
The call center gets about 4,500 calls a day.
The county has been conducting tests on an hourly basis and will continue to do so.
Bob Full, Emergency Services Chief for the county said at a press conference on Monday that the main problem was that only about 70 percent of the common names for streets and intersections were transferred over to the new computerized mapping system. Locations where incidents might occur that did not have addresses had to have addresses created for them or transferred over from the old system making it easier for dispatchers to immediately leave for and arrive at a location.
The system was upgraded on Sunday, August 8th. Full said they chose to switch over then because August is a slower month.
The new system has been years in the making. Full said it is an improvement over the old system and utilizes employee effectiveness. The system cost 10 million dollars.
The call center gets about 4,500 calls a day.
The county has been conducting tests on an hourly basis and will continue to do so.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
CCAC Cancels Bids Deadline
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) cancelled today’s deadline for bids on the construction of the K. Leroy Irvis Science Center after nonunion contractors raised concerns about the procurement process. The facility would provide health care and science education on the Pittsburgh Northside Campus.
Spokesperson David Hoovler says nonunion contractors were concerned with CCAC asking for 90% union employees in its labor agreement with the contractor. He says they do not feel they’ve done anything illegal or wrong. “It was not the intent to shut out any particular firm from bidding on the project, and we just want to be sure that’s clear.”
Hoovler says many local county projects have been done with very similar agreements, specifically the new stadiums, which were built with project-labor agreements.
Up until today, he says the changes are a result of meeting some requirements that had come through from the inspection and approval of the city, relating to fire code and such. “This [cancellation] will just enable some of those changes just to be incorporated into the main specification.”
Hoovler says CCAC hopes the cancellation will not delay the construction of this $21 million project significantly, which is set to open for the spring of 2012. “There is a great need for it to help provide the state of the art science, technology and health care education that our students really deserve.”
Spokesperson David Hoovler says nonunion contractors were concerned with CCAC asking for 90% union employees in its labor agreement with the contractor. He says they do not feel they’ve done anything illegal or wrong. “It was not the intent to shut out any particular firm from bidding on the project, and we just want to be sure that’s clear.”
Hoovler says many local county projects have been done with very similar agreements, specifically the new stadiums, which were built with project-labor agreements.
Up until today, he says the changes are a result of meeting some requirements that had come through from the inspection and approval of the city, relating to fire code and such. “This [cancellation] will just enable some of those changes just to be incorporated into the main specification.”
Hoovler says CCAC hopes the cancellation will not delay the construction of this $21 million project significantly, which is set to open for the spring of 2012. “There is a great need for it to help provide the state of the art science, technology and health care education that our students really deserve.”
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
County Senior Centers Extend Hours
Because of the extreme heat, some of the senior centers in Allegheny County will remain open longer than their usual hours of operation. Kathleen Burk, spokeswoman for the County Department of Human Services says these centers, designated as “Cooling Islands, will be open into the evening through Thursday July 8.
--Citiparks Homewood Center 7321 Frankstown Road, Homewood, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
412-244-4190
--Citiparks South Side "Market House" 12th and Bingham Streets, South Side 8a.m.-7p.m.
--New Image “Sharpsburg” Senior Center, 209 13th Street, Sharpsburg, 8:30 a.m.- 7 p.m.
412-781-1175, ext: 2107
--Highlands “Tarentum” Senior Center, 704 Second Avenue, Tarentum, 8:30 a.m.- 7 p.m.
724-224-1552
Burk says all county adults, age sixty and older, are welcome to visit any of the 62 county-funded senior centers during regular hours of operation to socialize and enjoy some activities while taking refuge from the heat. The “Cooling Islands” are available to those who would like to stay at a center later than usual to avoid the discomfort of the extremely warm weather.
A complete list of all Allegheny County senior centers
Department of Human Services tips for keeping cool.
--Citiparks Homewood Center 7321 Frankstown Road, Homewood, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
412-244-4190
--Citiparks South Side "Market House" 12th and Bingham Streets, South Side 8a.m.-7p.m.
--New Image “Sharpsburg” Senior Center, 209 13th Street, Sharpsburg, 8:30 a.m.- 7 p.m.
412-781-1175, ext: 2107
--Highlands “Tarentum” Senior Center, 704 Second Avenue, Tarentum, 8:30 a.m.- 7 p.m.
724-224-1552
Burk says all county adults, age sixty and older, are welcome to visit any of the 62 county-funded senior centers during regular hours of operation to socialize and enjoy some activities while taking refuge from the heat. The “Cooling Islands” are available to those who would like to stay at a center later than usual to avoid the discomfort of the extremely warm weather.
A complete list of all Allegheny County senior centers
Department of Human Services tips for keeping cool.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
'Active Allegheny' to Promote Biking, Walking
Allegheny County has launched an effort to encourage biking and walking.
Active Allegheny is a long-term initiative that will eventually spawn new routes for bikers and walkers. But Allegheny County Assistant Director for Transportation Initiatives Lynn Heckman says the routes won’t be simply bike paths.
“A bike path is almost like a bike trail, and it’s not really a recreation use, but multi-use trails that provide that linkage, that connection that people need to get from one place to another,” says Heckman.
She says the project is in its planning stages. Public input and a $300,000 state-funded study will help the county make a prioritized list of biking and walking projects. Heckman says some of those projects will be quick fixes while others may take a long time to finish.
A commuter survey and public hearing postings can be found online at www.activeallegheny.com.
Active Allegheny is a long-term initiative that will eventually spawn new routes for bikers and walkers. But Allegheny County Assistant Director for Transportation Initiatives Lynn Heckman says the routes won’t be simply bike paths.
“A bike path is almost like a bike trail, and it’s not really a recreation use, but multi-use trails that provide that linkage, that connection that people need to get from one place to another,” says Heckman.
She says the project is in its planning stages. Public input and a $300,000 state-funded study will help the county make a prioritized list of biking and walking projects. Heckman says some of those projects will be quick fixes while others may take a long time to finish.
A commuter survey and public hearing postings can be found online at www.activeallegheny.com.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Audit: Discrepancies with Service Providers
Allegheny County Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty says 6 human service agencies that have contracts with the county are out of compliance and owe the county more than a half million dollars.
Flaherty says they regularly audit the contracts "to make sure that the dollars are spent the way they should be and that taxpayers are getting efficient use of their money for these programs"
Flaherty says the audits showed key compliance issues with Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Pressley Ridge, Womanspace East, Next Step Foundation, Community Human Services Corporation and Community Empowerment Association (CEA).
"The most significant disparity was found in Community Empowerment Association’s noncompliance with its contract revealing that the agency owes Allegheny County approximately $304,000 for unsupported service hours and operating expenditures."
CEA is an agency that works to empower the African-American community through jobs, economic development, housing, education and family support systems.
Flaherty says Next Step, which provides transitional housing, education and support to individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, owes the county $64,900 due to an erroneous payment by the Department of Human Services.
According to the audit, Goodwill billed the county for salaries and benefits that exceeded the contract’s allowable amounts by $33,636; Pressley Ridge, a foster care provider, received $31,692 more than net eligible costs; Womanspace East owes the County $4,200 due to improper invoicing; and, Community Human Services (CHS)Corporation owes Allegheny County $23,000 billed for indirect, unsupported costs.
However, Adrienne Walnoha, Chief Executive Officer of CHS says her organization has been working with the County for two months to rectify this situation. "CHS did not inappropriately bill the County for any funds. We received an unqualified independent audit for the fiscal year in question and billed costs as outlined in our contracts."
Flaherty says he's recommending full reimbursement by these agencies
“The reviewed agencies should focus on strengthening their program management, documentation and accountability standards to preclude further disallowances from occurring. The Department of Human Services must closely monitor the terms of its contracts, units of service and other regulations to ensure compliance.”
Flaherty says it's hard to say whether these were just honest mistakes or if there were any intentional actions involved.
Flaherty says they regularly audit the contracts "to make sure that the dollars are spent the way they should be and that taxpayers are getting efficient use of their money for these programs"
Flaherty says the audits showed key compliance issues with Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Pressley Ridge, Womanspace East, Next Step Foundation, Community Human Services Corporation and Community Empowerment Association (CEA).
"The most significant disparity was found in Community Empowerment Association’s noncompliance with its contract revealing that the agency owes Allegheny County approximately $304,000 for unsupported service hours and operating expenditures."
CEA is an agency that works to empower the African-American community through jobs, economic development, housing, education and family support systems.
Flaherty says Next Step, which provides transitional housing, education and support to individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, owes the county $64,900 due to an erroneous payment by the Department of Human Services.
According to the audit, Goodwill billed the county for salaries and benefits that exceeded the contract’s allowable amounts by $33,636; Pressley Ridge, a foster care provider, received $31,692 more than net eligible costs; Womanspace East owes the County $4,200 due to improper invoicing; and, Community Human Services (CHS)Corporation owes Allegheny County $23,000 billed for indirect, unsupported costs.
However, Adrienne Walnoha, Chief Executive Officer of CHS says her organization has been working with the County for two months to rectify this situation. "CHS did not inappropriately bill the County for any funds. We received an unqualified independent audit for the fiscal year in question and billed costs as outlined in our contracts."
Flaherty says he's recommending full reimbursement by these agencies
“The reviewed agencies should focus on strengthening their program management, documentation and accountability standards to preclude further disallowances from occurring. The Department of Human Services must closely monitor the terms of its contracts, units of service and other regulations to ensure compliance.”
Flaherty says it's hard to say whether these were just honest mistakes or if there were any intentional actions involved.
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