Redstone officials approve budget
REDSTONE TWP. – The 2011 budget was passed without a tax increase by the Redstone Township supervisors this week. The general fund budget of $765,424 is slightly less than the current budget, but does include an additional $18,000 for the police department.
Among the additions are a third part-time officer and the part-time use of a drug-sniffing dog handled by Officer Norm Howard.
The dog will only be used for drug searches, said Ralph Rice, chairman of the supervisors. Because of liability issues, the supervisors voted not to use the dog for crowd control.
The supervisors are meeting in Pittsburgh at the end of the month with officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regarding security at the Hunter’s Ridge HUD-subsidized apartments.
“We had sent letters out with concerns over security issues with the gates always being open,” Rice said.
In other matters, the supervisors approved the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Act application of the Eli Shumar Family Limited Partnership for a testing and training facility in Brier Hill.
The LERTA provides 100 percent abatement of local property taxes for several years for new commercial construction on the site.
The supervisors also approved the sewage holding tank for the Divine Beauty salon on Filbert-Herbert Road. The salon will have operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
A mercantile license was also approved for Annette Thomas to operate Annie’s Crafts and More at 571 Filbert-Orient Road. The store will sell crafts and candles Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.
The supervisors also renewed the agreement with Fayette County for the county to handle enforcement of the Uniform Construction Code for new construction in the township.
The supervisors also acknowledged the services of two township residents: Marge Wyatt for her years of service at the Republic Library and Gwenna Kelley for 10 years of volunteer service at the Redstone Recreation Center.