Hempfield News

Keeping you up to date with articles of interest to Hempfield Residents.  Note: Please see the Home Page of this website for emergency announcements, including weather related items.

Flooding Preparedness

As we've all heard on the news, the fast snow melt accompanied by rains may cause local flooding. 

The WTAE Pittsburgh Channel has prepared a page and video on Flooding Links: Tips, Cleanup, Protection, Preparedness.  As the Township gears up for flooding preparedness, we recommend residents review the information available on The Pittsburgh Channel and learn the dos and don'ts of dealing with flood damage.

Township Manager Announces 2010 Projects

As the Township of Hempfield moves into 2010, preparations begin for major improvements throughout its municipality. It will also be undertaking major infrastructure and storm water projects.

One of Hempfield’s major projects in 2010, Walton Tea Room Road from Route 136 to Kerr Road, will result in an additional 1.1 miles of paving. Mr. Kurt Ferguson, Township Manager, said, “The resulting 33+ miles of road improvements will be the biggest road improvement undertaking ever in Hempfield. With approximately 300 miles of local roads in Hempfield, 30+ miles of improvements a year will allow the Township to make improvements, on average, every ten (10) years. The Township of Hempfield will continue to focus on roads to this extent beyond 2010 and believe the cumulative effect to this approach will be a significant upgrade to the Township’s infrastructure, and to its resident’s property values.”

Up-Coming Major Projects Include:

Walton Tea Room

Walton Tea Room connects two (2) major arteries (State Route 136 and State Route 30). Traffic counters installed at the site indicate that the average daily traffic exceeds 5,000 vehicles per day.

This project would include the installation of drainage systems, guiderail facilities, embankment stabilization and road reconstruction of over one (1) miles.

Bothwell Road Culvert Replacement

Bothwell Road has an existing concrete encased culvert that is in poor condition and needs replaced. Bothwell Road serves as an access to residential homes and an elderly assisted living care facility.

Work would consist of the replacement of the structure with a new culvert having the same hydraulic capacity and remaining in the same location.

Fort Allen Project

The Fort Allen plan involves creating new retention ponds to catch significantly more storm water and to upsize pipes and align streams near Suburban Acres to improve water flow capacity as that water is released. The project will include: (a) A large detention pond which will be created on the BP property across from the Ft. Allen fire hall; (b) Three (3) or four (4) mini ponds being created near the Ft. Allen Elementary School; and (c) Storm pipes will be upsized near Suburban Acres and the streams will be aligned.

West Point Storm Water Improvement Project

The roadways in West Point contain storm sewer inlets and pipe, but there are no storm water detention facilities. This has led to downstream flooding, swale erosion, and embankment failure.

Improvement plans include new storm sewer pipes to eliminate backyard swales, and a new storm water detention facility.

Cambridge Storm Water Improvement Project

During heavy rains residents on Cambridge receive storm water runoff from adjacent developments and nearby streets. Sump pumps cannot keep up with the volume of water and basements regularly flood of water to enter unimpeded into the storm sewer system.

Both of these storm water projects have been developed over the last two and a half years. They were created in an attempt to minimize flooding that became most evident during the August 2007 and June 2009 storms. While these projects will not guarantee that this will not happen again, getting four (4) inches of rain in thirty (30) minutes is going to cause flooding, this will work to hold back more water and expand drainage capacities. In effect, this is everything the Township can do to assist with these storm water challenges in these areas.

Mr. Ferguson added, “We are anticipating that these projects, if not completed, will be underway in 2010. These projects total approximately 5 million dollars and clearly demonstrate the priority that Township will have on maintaining its infrastructure and addressing the challenges of a community of over 90 square miles. We are also focusing on our storm water detention ponds. These ponds which have been built over the last forty (40) years number over three hundred (300) in our Township. We are currently evaluating all of these ponds, determining who owns them, addressing whether or not they are doing what they are supposed to do, and finally beginning to make improvements where necessary. We have spent the last several months making improvements to twelve (12) of these ponds, and the work will continue. This will be a project that will take several years, but we will work our way through all of them.”

Mr. Ferguson commented, “Our belief is that this comprehensive approach of an aggressive road improvement program, storm water projects, infrastructure projects, and retention pond maintenance will increase the overall value of the Township and therefore its resident’s properties. This is all being done without a tax increase.”

“I have been asked why the Township is doing this now”, said Mr. Ferguson. He explained, “The economy is shaky and we hear of local communities struggling over the entire region. First, over the last several years we have been very conservative with our finances. We should not be embarrassed to say that we are not broke. Second, these projects need to be done. If we don’t do them this year, we will have to address them next year or the year after that. We also have had to spend money to maintain some of these areas while the projects are waiting to be completed. Walton Tea Room has required investment every year to maintain the road and will continue that way until this project is complete. Finally, the reason to do these projects now is the state of the economy. Contractors who are eager for business provide much more competitive bids when projects are hard to come by. Lending institutions provide much lower interest rates and competitive packages when loans are at a minimum. If the Township waits another year or two to do these projects, contractors bids will be higher and banks lending rates will be higher. Please also remember that there is no tax increase in 2010. That marks twenty (20) years without a tax increase.” Please watch the Township’s website for information about these projects, as well as the announcements for when road work in 2010 will begin.

Red Cross Blood Drive Slated

Please consider giving the “gift of life” today for those in need tomorrow… The Westmoreland County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the recipients of these “gifts of life,” thank you for your assistance in saving lives. Any questions should be directed to the Westmoreland County Blood Service Coordinator, Stacy Hunter. She can be reached at (724) 837-3651 or 724-837-3671.

Donors should call (724) 837-3651 prior to the blood drive to confirm date, time and place as these are subject to change.

2010 Census to Begin in March

Census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States next March. There are just ten (10) short questions on the form. Please answer the questions and return it in the postage paid envelope provided. If the questionnaire is not returned, you may receive a visit from a census taker.

The information provided will help determine the population of our community and Hempfield’s representation in the Federal government. It will also help determine how funds are spent in our community on roads, parks, housing, schools, public safety, etc. Please remember to ask for identification from the census taker before opening the door or answering questions. Remember it is not necessary to provide your banking information or social security number.

Township to Watch Road Salt Use This Winter

Road salt is getting more expensive and harder to find this winter, and the Hempfield Township Supervisors recently passed a policy to make sure the salt they have is used in an efficient manner.

The Salt Distribution Policy focuses on addressing the amount of salt to use for each snow or ice event, and provides the Public Works Director the flexibility to prioritize routes and use a salt to anti-skid mixture for these events.

The Township of Hempfield works diligently to ensure that every ton of road salt purchased is used efficiently. We are telling our drivers that it is very important that they use salt efficiently, and not waste it on roads that don’t need it,” stated Supervisor Tom Logan.

The Supervisors have also established a partnership with Adamsburg Borough in relation to winter maintenance. Adamsburg is allowing the Township to store salt in its larger municipal garage, in exchange for the Township plowing and salting its 1-mile of roadway.

“This arrangement will help with fuel and additional storage. Our drivers in the western section of the Township will not need to drive all the way back to the main shed to re-supply during snow removal,” said Supervisor Bob Davidson. “ The Adamsburg Council has been very cooperative and it works out as a win-win for both municipalities,” he continued. Hempfield, on average, uses more than 12,000 ton of salt and anti-skid a year.

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Township Manager Talks About Communications 

Many local communities take communication, this very simple concept, for granted.  How residents are informed about happenings in the Township is very important. 

That information typically falls into two (2) categories; planned or anticipated projects and events, or those unexpected changes or unanticipated problems.

According to the Hempfield Township Manager, Kurt Ferguson “The Township needs to concern itself with both.  We now are moving towards a significantly improved system to communicate with our residents.” 

Website

First, Mr. Ferguson said, “We are in the midst of upgrading  our website.  Our site will have an entirely new look.  Our new site will be much easier to navigate and will have relevant up to date information for the resident to access.  We will have all permits available for download, applications for Recreation programs, schedules for public works and recreation, contact information for staff and elected officials, and other details associated with the Township.  We are anticipating our new site to go live by the end of October.  We will utilize our website primarily to convey information for planned or anticipated projects.  We will include information about upcoming paving projects, leaf collection, and recreation programs.”

Television Station

It is a bit more challenging to communicate with 40,000+ people when unexpected events emerge or last minute changes take place to planned activities.  “We think we have an answer to that obstacle that will affect a majority of our residents,” explained Mr. Ferguson.  Hempfield will acquire, through Comcast Cable, its own local television station.  That station will be specific to Hempfield and allow the Township to post specific information, almost instantaneously, as situations dictate.  For example if your child is enrolled in soccer and the weather is acting up, the Township

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Welcome to New Businesses

McDonald’s Restaurant   The new McDonald’s at 5287 Route 30, Greensburg, (across from the Westmoreland Mall) recently celebrated the grand opening of its restaurant to a huge crowd.

Towne Square   Towne Square at 900 Towne Square Drive, Greensburg, (corner of Route 30 and Mt. Pleasant Road) has finished construction and is awaiting new businesses.

Irwin Family Medical Center   The Irwin Family Medical Center at 420 Pellis Road, Greensburg (off Route 130) recently completed construction.

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