Road work on tap, fire station roofs to be replaced in New Kensington

State and federal grants are paying for more improvements in New Kensington.

New Kensington City Council on Monday awarded a contract of just under $96,900 to Derry Construction to resurface Fifth Avenue between Seventh and 11th streets. The company had submitted the lowest of seven bids, city engineer Tony Males said.

The money to pay for the work is coming from the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

Money from the state’s Commonwealth Financing Authority will be used to replace roofs at two of the city’s five fire stations.

Council awarded a contract of just over $80,000 to Encompass Building Group for the work at the No. 1 fire hall on Fourth Avenue and the No. 5 fire hall on Camp Avenue. Encompass was the lowest of six bidders, Males said.

Fire Chief Ed Saliba said the roofs of both stations, owned by the city, have 25-year shingles that are 33 years old at No. 5 and at least 40 years old at No. 1. Both are leaking.

At No. 1, some downspouts are missing or smashed shut and the gutters are leaking.

The department has been trying to get the roofs addressed for the past couple of years, Saliba said.

“I’m very happy the city was able to obtain this grant,” he said. “It’s something that’s been needed. They should have been done a long time ago.”

Of the other stations, Saliba said, the roofs at No. 3 on Victoria Avenue and No. 4 at Strawn Avenue and Seventh Street are also past their lives, leaking and needing to be replaced.

The roof at No. 2 on Freeport Street was replaced about three years ago, he said.

Council also approved applying for two other state grants.

The city is asking for nearly $24,000 to buy Lexipol, an online platform to manage and update police policies and procedures.

It also will ask for $20,000 that would be used to replace the Burrell-New Kensington Rotary Club sign at Route 366 and Leechburg Road. The sign is used to support nonprofits.