The meeting details for the Quaker Valley Council of Governments Board of Delegates May Meeting can be found below. Date & Time: May 17, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. Location: Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Hall - 1850 Big Sewickley Creek Rd, Sewickley, PA 15143 Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86342284087?pwd=SU5Jalo3MWtLcThEdlN1OGt2bXlmdz09
Beginning May 15, 2023 municipalities may begin to submit applications for the 2023 Act 152 Allegheny County Blight Removal Program. This program provides funding for demolition and blight remediation planning. Allegheny County Economic Development encourages communities to utilize their COGs for the submission of an Act 152 application(s). These applications and associated paperwork are identical to CDBG and GEDTF projects for which COGs are uniquely qualified to process and facilitate. The Act 152 program uses established blight conditions and focuses on the demolition of hazardous structures, site preparation for development projects, and multi-phase planning efforts. Applications are evaluated on several criteria including inclusion on existing demolition lists, community impact, and potential re-use of the property. While no local match is required for the program, it is encouraged. Individual awards will be capped at $250,000. All applications should be submitted by June 16, 2023 The program continues to enforce lead safe demolitions. Applications will be evaluated on several criteria:
Those communities considering the submission of an Act 152 application are encouraged to reach out to the QVCOG as soon as possible in order to prepare a gameplan with municipal staff and their engineer(s). Attached you will find several documents including the following: - Blight conditions (how to identify, etc.); - Emergency Demolition Requirements; - General Program Guidelines; - Lead Requirements; and - Legal Clearance Requirements
All interested parties are invited to attend a tour of WM’s Greenstar Recycling Facility (4100 Grand Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15225). The tour will take place on Wednesday, June 7th at 10:00 a.m. This site visit will provide an in-person visual demonstration of the recycling separation and consolidation process and will serve to highlight proper recycling techniques specific to the curbside recycling program. Those who are interested in attending the tour are asked to rsvp via email (pconners@qvcog.org)
The Turtle Creek Valley COG (TCVCOG) is seeking to develop a marketing and business strategy for the introduction of code enforcement software for Allegheny County municipalities. The software, CodeNForce, has been used by code enforcement officers that are employed by the TCVCOG to deliver code enforcement services for municipalities. It has also been beta tested by several municipalities. Once the software is completely tested and introduced it will be available for all municipalities for an annual fee.
In order to assist the TCVCOG in developing their software solution for local governments, interested parties are asked to take a short 3-minute survey about code enforcement services. The responses will be extremely helpful for advancing the introduction of the CodeNForce software. Just click on the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3QBFXFX Date & Time: April 19, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. Location: Bellevue Borough 537 Bayne Avenue, Bellevue, PA 15202 Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88533566357?pwd=MnhvZUZkSHMyWUxXSFVDdVZid2Q0QT09
Under the current terms of the SHACOG Rock Salt Contract, unless the municipality has terminated its individual agreement with Cargill, Inc. the participating municipality may give notice of its intent to extend the term of the contract from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. This notice must be communicated in writing to the vendor by May 1, 2023. Cargill, Inc. then has until May 10, 2023 to notify the participating municipality in writing if it wants to continue the contractual relationship. If it agrees, then the contract continues under the same terms and conditions, with only the price subject to an adjustment. That price may be adjusted by the CPI formula in the contract. Only the original bid price, unchanged by fuel adjustments, is used in that calculation. By way of example, the formula would accommodate a 1.5% increase so if that percentage was to prevail, the price would from $88.96 (the initial bid price not altered by fuel price adjustments) per ton to $90.15 per ton. The option to extend is exercised by giving written notice to the vendor by May 1, 2023 that your municipality is exercising that option. Because the municipality is the official party to the contract with the vendor, only the municipality can exercise the option. Consequently, each municipality must send its own letter. For your convenience, a sample letter is attached below. (This letter should be transferred to your municipal letterhead.) It is unknown if Cargill will grant exceptions for communications received late, so if you are going to invoke the option year, it is imperative that your letter is sent so that it arrives before the May 1, 2023 deadline. You should email your letter exercising the first option year to Salt_CustomerCareRoadSafety@cargill.com. Receipt is to be acknowledged by Cargill. You are requested to copy both SHACOG and the QVCOG on your email. If Cargill, Inc. agrees to the option, those participating municipalities that invoked the first option year will receive subsequent communication concerning estimated requirements for the forthcoming winter season. If the vendor declines, you will receive pertinent information for the next bid. Please note that you do not have to commit to an estimated tonnage requirement at this time. Your letter is intended only to secure the option year. Considerations concerning the balance of the current year purchase obligations and estimated requirements for the first option year, if successfully secured, will be addressed later in subsequent communications. Should you have any questions or require additional information concerning the above, please contact the SHACOG office by phone at 412-429-1130 or by email at Sue.Dawson@shacog.com.
On March 16, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. bids for SHACOG 2023 Spring Commodities were opened. The bid tabulation is available here. Bids for the following products were solicited:
The SHACOG Purchasing Alliance website allows member municipalities of participating COG's to record and view their estimated commodity requirements. Interested parties may access the Purchasing Alliance page here. By using this site, the municipalities have instant access to previous years' survey estimates and the ability to enter data for the new year as well as view all posted bid tabulations. Please remember that municipalities must formally accept the bids to secure the prices offered by the vendors. The joint purchasing format employed to secure these bids does not result in a master contract. Therefore, formal notice of bid acceptance must be issued to the vendors by your community in order to secure the quoted prices. This should be done by May 25, 2023. Please be reminded that absent notice by this date the vendors are not obligated to honor these prices. Participants are encouraged not to delay the issuance of these notices. Please send copies of these letters to the SHACOG office (2600 Old Greentree Road, Carnegie, PA 15106). For any questions please contact the SHACOG office by phone at 412-429-1130. Norfolk Southern will be coming to the Pittsburgh region to provide free hands-on training with their "Safety Train". The event is intended for fire departments, law enforcement, emergency medical services, hazmat response teams, emergency management personnel, military, homeland security, shippers, & customers. The following topics will be addressed at the training:
- Safety Around the Railroad; - Understanding Rail Shipping Documents; - Tank Car Identification; - Tank Car Valves & Fittings; - Locomotive Emergencies; - Responding to Railroad Emergencies; and - AskRail Mobile App The event will take place at the Norfolk Southern – Pitcairn, Yard (701 Wall Ave, Wall, PA 15148). The event will be offered over three days. The available dates/times can be found below: - October 10, 2023: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. - October 11, 2023: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - October 12, 2023: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. To register, visit here. Participants should bring sturdy leather work boots with a defined heel. No open-toe footwear is permitted. *Norfolk Southern provides emergency preparedness training to first responders as part of TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response), a nationwide program that assists communities prepare for and respond to a hazardous materials transportation incident. Event Flyer On April 19, 2023 the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) will be conducting a free virtual workshop intended for local governments to discuss how municipalities can impact air quality at the local level. The seminar will include a quick refresher on all things air quality, as well as discussions regarding available grants, model ordinances, partnerships, and other resources available to interested local governments. Interested participants may register by visiting here.
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is hosting an Electric Fleet Exposition on May 24, 2023 at the UPMC Events Center (6001 University Blvd, Moon Twp, PA 15108). This free event will be a great opportunity for municipal officials to see the latest electric vehicle (EV) models available for their local government fleets, hear about funding opportunities and best practices for transitioning to an electric fleet, and engage with experienced vendors concerning fleet charging. While there is no cost to attend, registration is required because space is limited. Interested participants are encouraged to register early by visiting here.
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