February 10, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council will study the possibility of collecting trash using its own personnel, rather than an outside contractor.
At this month’s meeting, council voted unanimously to have City Manager Doug Sample develop estimates on bringing trash collection in-house.
Local municipalities have been struggling with the rising cost of using outside contractors to collect garbage and residents in many communities have complained about trash fee increases. Some nearby communities, including West Mifflin and Munhall, have their own sanitation departments.
Council Member Aaron Adams said the city has speculated that Duquesne would need two garbage trucks — one as a primary vehicle and the other as a backup — and enough employees to collect trash four days per week.
Read More
February 10, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne City Council has added another 23 vacant properties to the demolition list and could begin work as early as next month.
At a special hearing on Feb. 4, council voted unanimously to raze the buildings, which had previously been identified as dangerous structures.
Solicitor Myron Sainovich said letters have been previously sent out to the owners of record for the properties. He noted that the public hearing was advertised through City Manager Douglas Sample’s office, and not one of the property owners had appealed the verdict.
Read More
January 21, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Crime and Police News, Duquesne News
A Turtle Creek man is dead and an unidentified woman is in critical condition following an early-morning shooting Monday in Duquesne.
Sean R. Johnson Jr., 30, was pronounced dead inside a home in the 100 block of Commonwealth Avenue just after 5:30 a.m. Monday, the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said.
A woman who was with Johnson was taken to an area hospital suffering from gunshot wounds, Allegheny County police said in a prepared release. Her identity was not made public.
County homicide detectives said a caller to 9-1-1 reported the shooting just after 5 a.m. Police responded to find Johnson and the unidentified woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Detectives said Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The medical examiner’s office said that Johnson died of a single gunshot wound to the head.
No further information was released by police. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call the county police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.
January 16, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne officials thanked the public works department for its response following the winter’s first significant snow falls.
At this week’s council meeting, Council Member Elaine Washington said she started receiving calls from concerned citizens as soon as the roads received their first covering, but she assured everyone, “we know the guys are out there.”
Mayor R. Scott Adams asked residents to “just be patient,” and one person in the audience responded he had seen city crews out clearing streets at 3 a.m. Monday.
With continued snow predicted, the public works department has put in another order for road salt, said Public Works Director Steve Arbasak but the city has “plenty of salt” for immediate needs.
Read More
January 10, 2025 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne is moving forward with plans to hire a code enforcement officer and council is expected to vote Jan. 28 on whether to officially open the position, city officials said this week.
Council discussed the issue at this week’s meeting. Officials said that for several years, the city has discussed creating the position, but funding for a salary has been the main problem. In the past year, there has been a more concerted effort by leaders to find a candidate who would investigate issues in the community.
In other business, City Manager Douglas Sample said that Duquesne also continues to advance with plans for a Home Rule Study Commission. He said he’s waiting for direction from state officials.
Read More
December 16, 2024 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: Duquesne News
Santa Claus has been making the rounds in Mon-Yough communities, in many cases with the assistance of volunteer firefighters and their departments, Tube City Almanac has learned.
The North Pole resident, shown here, visited Duquesne on Dec. 1.
A spokesperson for the jolly old elf said Santa and Duquesne firefighters began their rounds on Library Court, then traveled to St. Joseph Church, St. Nicholas Church, Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church, Orchard Park, Crawford Avenue, Kennedy Avenue, the former Duquesne football field, the Hilltop apartments and Oliver Plaza, ending their trip at City Hall on South Second Street.
Claus, whose age was not listed, is scheduled to return to the area on Dec. 24.
All photos are courtesy Duquesne Councilman Councilman Aaron Adams.
December 15, 2024 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Download Duquesne’s 2025 Budget
Duquesne has approved a 2025 budget with no tax increase.
At the Dec. 3 meeting, city council voted 4-0 to approve a $4 million spending plan with no tax increase.
The city’s tax millage will remain at 20 mills. According to the budget, some $620,000 will be allocated to County Hauling for garbage pickup. A total of $200,000 is allocated for vacant building demolition in the new year.
Officials said that a code enforcement officer might be hired in 2025.
Read More
December 15, 2024 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Duquesne will move forward with a study to decide whether to adopt a home-rule charter.
At this month’s council meeting, City Manager Douglas Sample announced that voters overwhelmingly approved the creation of a home-rule study commission, 1,313 to 674. “We are good to go,” he said.
Duquesne is currently governed by the state’s third-class city code. Home rule gives municipalities greater flexibility to set their own laws and ordinances. McKeesport and Monroeville are among municipalities that converted to home-rule government.
City residents also appointed members of the home-rule commission, with Councilwoman Denise Brownfield leading all vote-getters with 901. Connie A. Lucas-Kemp, who according to her LinkedIn page, is founder of Duquesne Network for Fairness & Community Development Corporation, came in second with 794.
Read More
December 06, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: Duquesne News
Related Story: Duquesne OK’s EOS Plant in RIDC Park
A proposed battery manufacturing plant in Duquesne could benefit from a $303.5 million loan announced this week by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Biden Administration announced this week that the DOE has closed the loan guarantee with EOS Energy Enterprises to finance the construction of two new production lines at the company’s facility in Turtle Creek to produce the company’s “EOS Z3” industrial-scale electricity storage systems.
The guarantee includes $277.5 million in principal and $26 million in interest.
The production lines could produce enough storage batteries to power the annual electricity needs of 130,000 homes.
Read More
December 06, 2024 |
By Tom Leturgey | Posted in: Duquesne News
Related Story: EOS Energy Secures $303.5M Federal Loan
This proposed EOS Energy facility in Duquesne would feature two assembly lines producing industrial-scale zinc storage batteries. (Illustration courtesy Gateway Engineers via City of Duquesne)
Duquesne City Council has approved construction of a manufacturing facility that could bring 300 to 400 jobs to the RIDC industrial park along the Monongahela River.
At a meeting this week, council voted 4-0 to give conditional approval to EOS Energy Enterprises’ plan to build a 181,000 square foot facility on 28 acres of the former U.S. Steel Duquesne Works. Mayor R. Scott Adams was unable to attend.
Doug Sample, Duquesne’s city manager, said the city’s planning commission has reviewed and recommended the project.
Councilwoman Denise Brownfield thanked the company for considering Duquesne. “Welcome,” she said, adding that she hopes city residents would apply for jobs with EOS.
Read More
