Oct 4, 2002 5 min read

Scowl: Rep. Larry Roberts didn’t fully think out the implications of raising taxes through the backdoor by hiking the tipping fee at landfills, according to South Union Township supervisor Thomas Frankhouser. So Roberts, in response to a lawsuit filed by South Union, North Union and Uniontown, introduced legislation to lift the fee hikes from municipalities’ garbage contracts. The law essentially levies the tax on haulers but allows them to recoup the expense by hiking customers’ fees. Roberts is coming to the aid of the municipalities that claim the state can’t meddle into contractual agreements. Roberts says he realizes now that isn’t right and blames lack of time to hear from constituents before voting on the fee. Fiddlesticks! Roberts knew, or should have known, that this tax was on the table in preparing the state budget. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that if haulers are permitted to pass the fee along to customers then every one of his constituents who pays a garbage bill would be socked. Even we figured it out in advance and warned of the repercussions. Roberts now must think through this new legislation that would eliminate the effect of the fee on municipalities’ contracts. There are municipalities in Fayette County without contracted haulers. Residents pick an independent hauler. Who do you think will pay this fee, and pay dearly for it, if the cost isn’t spread out to all of a hauler’s customers?–

Wow: Much to Uniontown Mayor James Sileo’s dismay his city often appears unkempt. On occasion he becomes quite vocal about filth and can’t understand why people litter or allow their properties to become overgrown with weeds. On Saturday, Sileo joined by city council and the city and redevelopment authority’s solicitors will physically attack the mess by tidying up the areas around the city’s primary sidewalks. Sileo is looking for volunteers who share his vision for a neater city to turn up at 8 a.m. at city hall.

If painting is more your style, attorney Charles Gentile is engaged in a project to enliven his slice of downtown at the corner of Gallatin Avenue and South Street. Uniontown High School art students designed Sept. 11 memorial murals that will be painted on the exterior walls. Those wanting to help with the painting can do so starting Saturday, Oct. 12.

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Scowl: Few doubt that the world would be a safer place if Saddam Hussein was removed as Iraq’s dictator. But White House spokesman Ari Fleischer stepped out of bounds this week in urging his assassination. While President Bush stuck to the line that his goal is to disarm Saddam, Fleischer one-upped his boss in urging the Iraqi people to kill or exile him. Fleischer said, “There are many options that the president hopes the world and people of Iraq will exercise” that would get “rid of the threat.” His comments might be met with hoots and cheers from Americans. But world leaders who the U.S. is now attempting to woo to their side in taking a tough stance against Saddam might be troubled with this ultimate solution: murder.

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Wow: Uniontown’s Downtown Business District Authority is on the right course in proposing that the city host an arts festival to coincide with the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic, scheduled for Nemacolin Woodlands next September. This is a chance for Uniontown to finally capture some of the tourists that flock to the mountains but find little to do in town. To be successful an arts festival will need a dedicated core of volunteers and they will need to start soon. The DBDA is looking for support from city council and the chamber of commerce. This support should be forthcoming in order to make the festival a success.

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Scowl: Let’s hope that it was just a couple of stupid punks who pulled a stupid prank and not a pattern that is likely to be repeated. The American Legion Post 51 which places flags throughout the downtown to observe patriotic holidays reported that about 20 of the flags were sliced from the poles and found lying on streets Sept. 12. The sight of hundreds of flags lining the downtown is uplifting and one that takes hours of labor and love by the veterans. This vandalism deeply wounds these men and women.

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Wow: Imagine crossing the Lane-Bane Bridge without the guidance of orange and white barrels. After 3 1/2 years of construction, bridge work is nearly completed. The $19.7 million project hasn’t pleased everyone as the view of the Monongahela River has been compromised. But it will provide for a smoother, safer crossing from Fayette to Washington counties.

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Wow: Congratulations to the state police who serve in Fayette County for continuing the Gifts for Kids program. The goal this year is to give gifts to 6,500 children in grades kindergarten through third and more than 30 bikes to kids whose families can’t afford them. The program was started some years ago when troopers wanted to do something to make life a little brighter for the many impoverished kids in Fayette that too often they see only when something bad happens.

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Scowl: Fayette County Commission Chairman Vince Vicites talks too much. He’s on the cell phone constantly costing the county money, according to Commissioner Sean Cavanagh. But what about Cavanagh? He mails out surveys willy-nilly at great expense. Are these legitimate issues that call for yet another commissioners’ meeting to turn into a dirt-slinging session? Here’s a solution: The county budgets a certain amount of money for each commissioner to communicate however he pleases whether it’s cell phones or postage. Once each reaches his limit, cut the service off.