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Charleroi pulls rental licenses away from several property owners

By Mark Soroka for The 3 min read

Charleroi’s council is getting tough on rental property owners who aren’t taking blight seriously.

During its regular monthly meeting, council unanimously voted to revoke rental licenses from landlords who own properties located at 337 Washington Avenue and 405 Lookout Avenue in Charleroi.

Council President Jerry Jericho said that the owners of those properties have received numerous warnings and citations.

“We aren’t going to take it any longer,” he said. “We are stepping forward to remedy a problem that’s been going on for a long time. People have to start taking care of their properties or they will face the consequences.”

Jericho said council members are enforcing an ordinance that was enacted many years ago.

“Our council did something similar a few years ago and it worked for awhile. There were a few people who fixed things up but now they are blowing us off again,” he said.

According to Jericho, Charleroi’s code enforcement officer issued 40 citations last month.

“We are seeing the same thing throughout town,” he said. “People have piled up trash, bicycles and tires on their porches and yards. We want to make Charleroi look more presentable.”

Jericho said owners of rental properties can appeal the council’s decision in court. He added that the council is willing to work with property owners to address blight.

“We aren’t looking to make these places vacant. That’s the last thing we want to do. We just want people to listen to us and take care of those properties,” he said.

In addition, Charleroi issues warnings and citations to individuals who live in properties that are not up to code.

Also, during the meeting, Fred McMullen, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh presented the Charleroi Volunteer Fire Department with a sign designating Charleroi as StormReady.

Charleroi, which is the first borough in Washington County and the sixteenth in the state to receive this recognition, was commended for its preparedness in the event of a severe weather emergency.

To be officially StormReady, a community must establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center, have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public, create a system that monitors weather conditions locally, promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars and develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.

“This is a tribute to both you and your staff and will ultimately result in the saving of lives and protection of property,” said McMullen.

Firefighter Rob Lisovich, who accepted the sign on behalf of the Charleroi Volunteer Fire Department, said the borough was evaluated according to several criteria, including its emergency plan, warning systems, specialty equipment and vulnerability.

“This shows we are prepared to handle any kind of storm that comes our way,” he said. “We have the equipment, resources and planning to withstand a natural disaster. I think Charleroi would come through a natural disaster in decent shape, thanks to the systems we have in place.”

One of the StormReady signs will be displayed outside the Charleroi Volunteer Fire Department while two other signs will be set up at other locations in the borough.

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