Two New Kensington roads are slated to be resurfaced this year, and city officials are looking for more that can be done with the money available.

Council on Monday awarded a nearly $103,000 contract to A. Folino Construction to resurface Locust Street from Victoria Avenue to Freeport Road, and Earl Avenue from Valley Street to its end.

A. Folino submitted the lowest of five bids, city engineer Tony Males said. He said the price was just under the city’s $105,000 budget.

Males said he anticipates work will begin within 30 days.

Councilman Tim DiMaio said the city has about $47,000 remaining for paving, plus $40,000 in grant money. With that, he said the city will look to do a second round of paving.

“I want to use every dime,” he said.

In other business

• Council approved a subdivision creating a new lot along Tarentum Bridge Road.

The lot, about three-fifths of an acre, is located between Shamey’s Gulf Service and the main entrance to Giant Eagle, in front of the Quality Inn.

What would be built on the parcel is still not known. Males, the city’s engineer and zoning officer, previously said city officials know only informally that it would be some type of fast food restaurant.

A land development plan would need to be reviewed and approved by the city before anything could be built there.

• Council approved hiring John Lough II as a police officer.

Even with the hire, the police department will be short-staffed, Chief Bob Deringer said.

Deringer said that by the end of May, his department will lose two officers who are leaving for jobs elsewhere, and a third might leave by the end of the year.

• Council approved a request from The River Community Church to close Elizabeth Street between Highland Avenue and Freeport Road, and a section of Young Avenue behind the church, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 22 for its annual car show.

• Council approved curb cuts for driveways to proposed parking lots at the corner of 10th Street and Fourth Avenue, and at 10th Street and Cherry Alley. The lots will provide parking for Wesley Family Service’s Pioneer Apartments.

The parking lots are anticipated to alleviate parking congestion on 10th Street, which has been almost restricted to one-way because of vehicles parked on both sides, Males said.

• Council approved a request from Allegheny Valley Railroad to post “no dumping” signs on the side of a concrete wall along Sixth Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets.

According to the city, the railroad asked to post the signs because of a problem with residents in the area dumping grass clippings and other debris near the railroad tracks. Males, who recommended approving the request, said the dumping could be potentially dangerous and could cause a derailment.

Males said the railroad will handle enforcement.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)