Apr 9, 2018 By Mark Soroka for The 3 min read

MONONGAHELA — Council members will soon be voting on a revised ordinance to help eradicate blight in the city.

During a workshop meeting Monday, Councilwoman Claudia Williams said she is making final changes to a property registration ordinance. Council will review the changes and possibly vote on the ordinance during its next meeting.

“We don’t have a code inspection officer and that’s making it difficult to enforce violations,” said Williams. “There are a few people in the city who are piling up wood, tires and other trash on their properties. Not only is that unsightly, but it also affects property values and it poses a safety hazard.”

Williams added that the ordinance will put more pressure on banks that are not taking care of properties they own.

“There are a few out-of-state banks that hold the liens on properties that are becoming blighted,” she said. “This ordinance will make it easier to track down who has the lien for vacated properties. We also may block property owners from acquiring additional properties unless they take better care of the properties they already own.”

Police Chief Brian Tempest added that the junk cars are becoming a nuisance in Monongahela.

“Right now, we have about 20 to 30 cars that are in violation of our junk car ordinance,” he said. “We typically give someone a 10-day notice to remove a junk car from their property. If they don’t comply by the eleventh day, we make arrangements to have the car towed away.

Also, during the meeting, Mayor Bob Kepics announced the he will be co-hosting a drug task force meeting with Monessen Mayor Matt Shorraw. Scheduled for May 2, 10 a.m. the meeting will be open to all mayors and police chiefs from communities throughout the Mon Valley, as well as representatives from the state police and the Washington County coroner’s office.

“The opioid crisis is getting worse in the Mon Valley,” said Kepics. “We need to come together and discuss ways to better address this problem.”

The meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held at the Monongahela Municipal Building but it may be moved to another location if additional space is needed.

In other business,

n Williams said that the city will participate in a litter cleanup project the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May. The state will pick up litter that is bagged and left on the corners of sidewalks adjoining state highways.

n Tempest told council members that Key Bank has volunteered to take part in a community service project on May 23. The council will further discuss the offer and let Key Bank know how it can best help the city.

n The city is working out a financing agreement to purchase a new police car and crack sealer. By participating in COSTARS, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s cooperative purchasing program, Monongahela can get a better financing rate.