State of emergency declared to help with snow removal
A spirit of cooperation pervaded the snow removal efforts in Brownsville and West Brownsville Monday, with borough officials and volunteers lending a hand. West Brownsville Council President Patricia Maxon said Mayor Martin Brockman spent the day helping with snow removal, along with several borough residents.
“The mayor called a state of emergency (Sunday). Our councilmen have worked diligently to clear the streets,” Maxon said. “We don’t have a street commissioner at this time. Bill White, our former street commissioner and councilman, offered to help us through this crisis.”
Maxon said Brockman was instrumental in organizing a street crew for the winter emergency.
“John Petro is the head of our street department and he has been out there with the mayor and Bill White. Mr. Petro was just taught how to operate the plow and the backhoe by the mayor a few weeks ago. The mayor is very knowledgeable about the equipment because his father, Martin Brockman Sr., for years was the street commissioner,” Maxon said.
Maxon said the borough truck did run into problems Monday morning as White was turning onto Monroe Street. Maxon said the truck went up onto the curb and started to tip, but the borough crews were able to get it back on the road again.
“I spent a few hours on the truck with Bill White and I have a new appreciation for what has to be done in this situation.” Maxon said.
Maxon said that until she rode with the plow, she didn’t realize how difficult it was to reach some areas of the borough with the big equipment.
“Larry Beck has been helping with equipment repairs and John Slusarczyk is helping us out too,” Maxon said.
Maxon said the state of emergency for the borough was expected to continue into Tuesday.
Emergency declarations are also still in effect in Brownsville Borough and Luzerne Township, with residents being asked to stay off the streets as much as possible and to remove cars parked along municipal streets wherever possible to permit more effective plowing.
“We ask that people try not to put the snow back onto the street. There is an ordinance against it. We’re asking people to be courteous enough to not blow snow back onto the streets that have been cleaned. As it gets colder, it will just create icy conditions. All snow should be put back on their own property,” said Brownsville Mayor Norma Ryan.
“We’ve not lifted the emergency yet because they are just attempting to do our secondary roads,” Ryan said Monday. “Our main roads are open – High Street, Second Street and Market Street.”
Ryan said the state of emergency would most likely be lifted today.
“The reason we want people to stay off the roads is so they can clean them more easily. When you’re hampered by traffic, it takes twice as long,” Ryan said.
Ryan said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation did an excellent job keeping Market Street and the Lane Bane Bridge open, and numerous volunteers and contractors have been helping the borough, which has only one plow truck, to get the roads cleared. The Fayette County Housing Authority and Pennsylvania American Water were among those in Brownsville that helped with the snow removal, Ryan said.
“There are a lot of snow plows out. We really can’t worry about the finances. The main thing is the safety of the residents, and we need to be able to open all the roads for them,” Ryan said.
Gov. Ed Rendell’s emergency declaration will allow the borough to seek reimbursement for any contracted labor for emergency snow removal.
Luzerne Township normally operates four plow trucks, but two broke down Monday, leaving the community short-handed.
D.J. Angelone, the township’s emergency management coordinator, said the township contracted with Orbash Industries and Levi Harris for some of the snow removal.
Harris was using a bulldozer to clear the streets of Isabella Monday. Angelone said additional equipment was rented from Best for You on Route 40 in Redstone Township.
“There still are areas that need to be cleared. At this point, we don’t know how long it’s going to take because of the mechanical difficulties we’ve run into,” Angelone said.
Angelone said the state roads that are some of the main arteries in the township were plowed, but they were still snow-packed Monday afternoon.
“The board of supervisors wants the motorists to use caution and to stay off the roads as much as possible so we can get the roads cleared,” Angelone said.
The situation was a bit better in Redstone Township, despite the lack of salt and an abundance of snow.
“We got 10 today, 15 yesterday and I don’t know how much Saturday. We did not declare a state of emergency. Our trucks, we’ve had minor breakdowns, but we were diligent and put our hearts into it,” said Larry Williams, chairman of the township supervisors. “We’ve got five trucks and five operators, plus the front-end loader. Everything is passable now and some of them are clear.
“I compliment my colleagues on the good equipment that we have. We have a good maintenance program and that helps keep the equipment running this time of year,” Williams said. “Thank the Lord for the sun, that’s what really helped us.”