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Message from Board President—Dave Zarnick
Fall 2018
Butler Township
Newsletter
Inside this issue:
FEMA Floodplain Map 2
2015 I-Codes
Feasibility Study 3
Recreational Fires
Burning Regulations
Free Smoke Detectors
Become a Vol. Firefighter
4
Fire Prevention Week
Poster Contest 5
New Police Officers,
Retirements & Promotions 6
From the Chief of Police 7
Student Representative
Municipal Intern Program 8
Fall Leaf Collection
Trick or Treat
Recycling Information
9
Preston Park
MMM Crew 10
Tours of Preston Park
Park Rental Building
Butler Transit Authority
11
Butler Co. Recreation 12
New Employees &
Retirements 14
New Businesses
Important Phone Nos. 15
290 South Duffy Road
Butler, PA 16001
Phone: 724-283-3430
Fax: 724-282-2142
Butler Township Board of
Commissioners Dave Zarnick, President Sam Zurzolo, Vice President Joseph A. Wiest James Lokhaiser, Jr. Fred M. Vero
Autumn Greetings:
Butler Township has seen many changes in our Board of Commissioners and staff in 2017 and 2018, and so I would like to take this opportunity to affirm our commitment to the future of our township – not to simply be “acceptable,” but to be “first class.” The elected members of your Board take to heart the importance of our work and it is our constant goal and mission to protect the character and qualities of the township while maintaining our long history of sound financial management and fiscal discipline.
Butler Township strives to ensure the safety of the people who live and work here and we are committed to supporting excellence within our emergency services in order to continue keeping you and your family members safe and secure. Our emergency services are comprised of well-trained men and women and we are confident that we are well prepared to protect and serve our community members. As all communities are, we are challenged by the ongoing opioid crisis and our police department has successfully saved the lives of many overdose victims. We continue to make every effort to work with local agencies to reduce the loss of life to this crisis. We thank our residents for continuously supporting the police, fire and road department services.
For residents who settled here years ago and continue to live in the Township, the growth of what once used to be a predominately agricultural area is evident. With developments and businesses appearing where farms and woodlands were familiar, we remain dedicated to encouraging the careful expansion of existing and new commercial businesses located throughout the Township while working to ensure that the Township remains aesthetically desirable for both its residents and businesses. The Board of Commissioners is happy to meet with all owners/brokers of any vacant properties and any potential businesses seeking to move into our township to work toward the best possible outcome for all.
Our Board of Commissioners meet twice a month, and all meetings are open to the public. There are other Township boards and commissions that meet during the month, and schedules of these meetings are posted on our website. If you are interested in sitting on one of these boards or commissions, please send a letter of interest to the Administration Office. We make every effort to use all available tools at our disposal to keep all constituents well-informed. Please check our website, www.butlertwp.org and the Butler Township Facebook Page frequently for updates to all Township news and happenings.
Our Township staff stands by ready to assist you with any questions or problems you may have in the Township. If you have a building permit request, trash or recycling question, police or road matter, etc., that is not addressed on our website, I encourage you to visit or phone the Township staff.
We encourage community members to share their insights and experiences with us. Looking ahead, we will continue working to ensure our Township prospers and enhances the quality of life for our individual residents and greater community.
Dave Zarnick
Page 2
The Zoning Department saw a lot of change occurring in Butler Township in 2016 & 2017. With the retirement of
Regulations Inspector Steve Homison and the hiring of his replacement, Jim Sproat, the department has been busy
keeping up with the daily workload.
In 2017 the township saw the addition of 8 new single family homes and 3 new commercial buildings. The
department processed 319 Building/Zoning/Fire permits, and 34 Land Use Applications. The Planning
Commission recommended approval of 4 land developments and 15 subdivisions and heard 2 change of zoning
requests. The Zoning Hearing Board heard 15 zoning appeals.
Butler Township Newsletter
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has completed a
Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that became effective in Butler County on
August 2, 2018. Butler Township adopted a Floodplain Ordinance consistent with the current FEMA guidelines
on May 21, 2018 and complies with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The FIRM is used for flood
insurance determinations, floodplain management and other planning and building requirements applications.
There were several properties in Butler Township that were affected by the new FIRM. Some properties were
added in the new map and some were taken out. Any property that experienced a change in the designation on
the FIRM from the previous map would have received notification from Butler Township of such change.
Butler Township’s revised Flood Plain Ordinance (Ord. 900) as adopted on May 21, 2018, can be viewed at the
following link: https://ecode360.com/9628667
You can search by address with the following link to see where the floodplain is in relation to your property or if
it is even effected: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search
Community Identified Flood Hazard Area
Several properties in Butler Township were previously in a floodplain and have now been determined to be out of
a floodplain per the FIRM. Butler Township has, however, assessed all of these changes and has determined that
although some of the properties were taken out of the FIRM they may have experienced flooding in the past and
may be at risk of experiencing flooding again in the future. These properties were included in the Community
Identified Flood Hazard Area Map, as adopted on August 20, 2018 along with a floodplain ordinance amendment
(Ord 904). If your property is in the Community Identified Floodplain Area, this does not impact your property
with regard to flood rate insurance, but it does impact your property such that your property must comply with
the building regulations set forth in the Butler Township Floodplain Ordinance, as adopted. Any properties that
are included in the Community Identified Floodplain Ordinance would have also received notification from
Butler Township. The link to this Ordinance and Map can also be viewed at the following link: https://
ecode360.com/9628667.
Helpful information regarding flood insurance is found at www.floodsmart.gov.
The ordinance and the flood maps are also available for review at the Township Administration Office at 290
South Duffy Road, Butler PA 16001.
Page 3
This is a statewide update to the I-Codes and will have
an impact on all commercial and residential construction
in the state of Pennsylvania.
Butler Township opted into the Statewide Building
Code - effective July 8, 2004, electing to administer and
enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction
Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, as amended from time to
time and its regulations.
On May 1, 2018 the PA Uniform Construction Code
(PA UCC) Review and Advisory Council (RAC)
submitted their report to the Department of Labor and
Industry adopting the majority of code provisions
contained in the 2015 International Code Council (ICC)
Model Codes. These new code provisions will take
effect on October 1, 2018. Transitioning from the base
2009 codes to the 2015 versions means there will be a
significant amount of changes in the enforceable code.
While some of those changes are mostly administrative,
some of them may warrant changes in the building
practices and design techniques, and will have an impact
on home performance, occupant safety, and
affordability. Listed below are examples of some
projects that require a permit and examples of projects
that do not require a permit. A complete list of the
township ordinances can be found on-line at
www.butlertwp.org.
On August 20, 2018, the Butler Township Commissioners
approved an agreement with Pashek+MTR to provide
professional services to conduct a Youth League Feasibility
Study.
Butler Township received funding through the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resource grant program. The
consultant will meet with local baseball associations, the Butler
School District, and other key individuals and groups to gain a
better understanding how they currently operate and create a
plan for future needs. The consultant will conduct an analysis
of current and future funding opportunities, existing field
conditions, maintenance, and opportunities and weaknesses.
Pashek+MTR will provide Butler Township with
recommendations and cost estimates for future planning and
operations of Youth Baseball in Butler Township.
No Permit Required for Residential Application;
Replacement of Shingles or Windows on a home
(same size)
Retaining Walls four feet in height or less
Patio Slab
Replacement Siding on a Home
Permit Required for both Residential and Commercial
New Construction
Addition, or changes made to weight bearing members
Change in Occupancy
In Ground Pools and Above Ground Pools greater than 24
inches deep.
Elevated Decks
Storage Shed or Garage
Signs
Fences
Windows of a larger size
Retaining Walls higher than four feet
Home Occupation (may also require approval from the
Zoning Hearing Board)
Before beginning any project you should
check with the Zoning Department for help
in determining what, if any, permits or
approvals are required.
Call Barb at 724.287.0885 to report potholes on Butler
Township roads.
BUTLER TOWNSHIP POTHOLE REPORTING
Butler Township has received a Hodge Fund Grant which was
used to purchase smoke detectors. These detectors are free to
Butler Township residences in which children reside or
frequently visit. Residents can receive 2 smoke detectors per
household, which are available at the Butler Township Municipal
Building at the main reception area. Proof of residency is
required.
Butler Township Codified Ordinance §231-16 permits the burning of yard waste in accordance with the following standards:
Yard Waste – Non-composted tree trimmings, leaves, branches, shrubs, grass clippings and other products or by-products of vegetative growth.
Burning of yard waste is permitted during the months of March, April, September, October, and November. (MASON)
No burning is permitted upon any public street, alley or right-of-way.
No burning is permitted to be any closer than 30 feet from the nearest building and/or 10 feet from any inhabited area, roadway, property line or utility.
All fires must be continually watched until all ashes or burning embers are completely extinguished.
Fires are permitted from sunup until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. All fires must be completely extinguished.
Recreational fires are permitted at
any time in Butler Township as
long as the following guidelines are
followed:
Only clean, dry, wood products
are to be burned; no treated or
painted lumber is permitted.
Fire size is limited to three (3) feet in diameter and two
(2) feet in height.
Fire location can be no closer than twenty-five (25) feet
from a structure or combustible material. Conditions
that could cause the fire to spread must be removed
prior to ignition.
Fires in patio fire pits or chimineas must be in
accordance with manufacturer instructions.
Fires are not permitted within ten (10) feet of any street,
public way or property line.
All fires shall be constantly attended until extinguished.
An approved method of extinguishing a fire shall be on
site for immediate utilization. (i.e. fire extinguisher with
minimum 4A rating, garden hose, water barrel, sand,
dirt or water truck).
Township residents are reminded that burning of yard
waste is permitted in the township only during the
months of March, April, September, October and
November. (M A S O N)
Challenge Yourself … Become a Part of Our Family …Feel the Satisfaction from Doing an Important Job.
Looking for something different? Looking to be a part of something bigger than yourself? Looking for a way to contribute in a vital way to your community? Then consider joining some of your neighbors, men and women of various ages and backgrounds, who volunteer as firefighters for Butler Township. It’s not like on TV or in the movies. It’s not all exciting. But it is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. The training and commitment will challenge you beyond what you may do in your regular job or daily routine. Some of the strongest bonds you will ever form will be with your brother and sister firefighters. And, in the end, you’ll know that you are making a difference to the residents who rely on the volunteer fire departments that serve our township.
Are you up for the challenge? If so, visit or call the Fire Department near you:
Butler Twp. Vol. Fire Dist. 3 Mercer Road Vol. Fire Dept. South Butler Vol. Fire Dept. 121 Sparks Avenue 127 Victor Road 98 Old Plank Road 724-482-2000 724-285-4142 724-285-4143
Page 4 Butler Township Newsletter
Theme:
LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN.—Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.
Requirements: 22” x 28” White Poster Board
Grades: K through 4 (McQuistion, Northwest and Connoquenessing Elementary Schools)
Deadline: Thursday, September 27, 2018
Visit www.sparky.org for ideas and fun activities. Parents are encouraged
to help since fire prevention is a family matter.
Entries can be either dropped off at the Butler Township Municipal Building, 290 South Duffy Road,
Butler or the students can take them to school and give them to their teachers. The Fire Marshal
will collect the entries from each school.
Prizes:
First Place Trophy and Menchies Frozen Yogurt gift card for
each grade level—awarded at the Butler Township Board of
Commissioners meeting on Monday, October 15, 2018.
Menchies Frozen Yogurt gift cards will be given to
participants from a classroom with the highest participation
at each school.
Traveling trophy will be awarded to the school that has the most participation.
All submitted posters will be on display at the Butler Township Municipal Building during the month of
October.
Any questions, please contact Marcie at 724-283-3430, X 212 or email at [email protected].
Page 5
The following information must be included on the back of each poster:
Parents’ name and contact phone number
Student’s name and grade
school and classroom number
Page 6 Butler Township Newsletter
Rachel M. Dovidio Start date: September 19, 2016
Originally from the Canton, OH area.
Attended Stark State College (Canton, OH) and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (Johnstown, PA) receiving an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.
Graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Police Officer Training Academy.
US Marine Veteran
Previously employed by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department.
Ryan M. Winkler Start date: December 5, 2016
Originally from the Monroeville, PA area.
Attended New River Community College (Dublin, VA) and graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s Degree in History.
Graduate of the Allegheny County Police Academy.
US Marine Veteran
Previously employed by Allegheny Township PD, Upper Burrell PD, East Deer PD and City of Arnold PD.
The Butler Township Police Department has undergone a lot of personnel changes over the past few years with the majority of the change due to retirements. The following four officers have retired from the department with their corresponding years of service:
Sgt. Nathan Teslik—26 years of service
Sgt. Timothy Clark—27 years of service
Ptlm. Ray Kriebel—28 years of service
Ptlm. Thomas Palla—25 years of service Ptlm. David Endlich also left the department after 3 years of service to pursue a career with the Pa State Police. Butler Township would like to thank each of these officers for the many years of service that they provided to the township and we wish them well in their new endeavors.
Visit our website for a complete
list of our ordinances.
www.butlertwp.org
Jason K. Gueck Start date: January 9, 2017
Originally from the Harmony, PA area.
Graduated from the Beaver County Community College Municipal Police Training Academy.
US Army Veteran
Previously employed by the Butler City PD, Evans City Boro PD and the Coraopolis Boro PD.
Tyler P. Collins Start date: February 13, 2017
Originally from the Plum area.
Attended the University of Pittsburgh and Mercyhurst University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Crimi-nal Justice.
Graduated from the Allegheny County Police Academy.
Previously worked for Frazier Twp. PD, East Deer PD, Arnold City PD and the City of Pittsburgh PD.
Jeffrey Lewis Start date: March 20, 2017
Graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Graduate of the Allegheny County Police Academy.
Previously employed by Ohio Township PD, Sewickley Heights PD and Franklin Park PD.
Det. James Sasse was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Sgt. Sasse has been an officer with the Butler Township
PD for 16 years.
Det. Thomas Vensel was promoted to the rank of
Sergeant. Sgt. Vensel has been an officer with the Butler
Township for 11 years.
Both officers have been reassigned to the Patrol Division.
Page 7
Township residents are reminded that individuals soliciting in Butler Township are required to obtain a permit from the Police Department. The permit shall contain the signature of the Township Manager, shall show the company name,
photograph of the licensee, the goods to be sold, the date of issuance and length of time the permit is valid. It shall be the duty of the individual or the person soliciting to prominently display his license upon his person at all times. The following individuals or groups are exempt from obtaining a soliciting permit:
Organizations associated with public school districts
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and their affiliated organizations
Butler Township youth groups Residents are urged to contact the Butler Township Police by calling 9-1-1 to report any soliciting violations.
FOLLOWING IS A BREAKDOWN OF A COMMON TRAFFIC CITATION FINE: $25.00 For majority of traffic offenses, but some fines are larger. The municipality receives half of the fine amount - usually $12.50 EMS: $10.00 Designated for Emergency Services. This goes to the State. GENERAL FUND: $45.00 This goes to the State. COST: $39.00 This goes to the State. JCP: $10.00 Judicial Computer Program—This goes to the State From a typical citation that amounts to $129.00, the State receives $116.50 and the municipality $12.50.
Most of us have them—old medications left over from a recent illness or that have expired—lurking in the back of a medicine cabinet in our home. We have all at one time or another needed a medication and it’s tough to figure out what to do with the leftovers. Up until recently, there have been no environmentally-sound or legal solutions for proper disposal. Now, leftover and expired prescription drugs can be dropped off for FREE at the Butler Township Police Department Lobby between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. All liquid medication must be in their original containers. Medications pose a serious danger in homes everywhere. There is a possibility of getting them mixed up with other medications, they are often accessible to children and can even pose a danger to our pets. Traces of medications are now even being detected in our drinking water from being flushed down drains or disposed of in landfills. Pharmaceutical products should never be flushed down the toilet or drain, burned in the open or thrown in the trash because:
These items can contaminate the environment and sicken people and animals if they get into our drinking and ground water.
Pharmaceuticals may kill bacteria or produce drug resistant bacteria in sewage treatment plants and septic systems if flushed down the drain.
Burning can release toxic pollutants into the air.
If these items are scavenged from your medicine cabinet or trash they can be illegally used or sold.
If mixed up with other medication and taken by mistake, they can cause serious health problems.
If possible, keep any leftover or expired medications securely locked up until you can get rid of them so they are not accessible to children or pets, or stolen by someone.
Calling 9-1-1:
As a reminder to all residents, 9-1-1 is not just for
emergencies any more. Residents are advised to call
9-1-1 for the following:
To request a police response to a non-emergency
situation
To speak with a police officer concerning a non-
emergency situation
To request a response from the dog officer
To report that a traffic signal is not working
Just let the 9-1-1 operator know that it is a non-
emergency request. The operator will either dispatch
a Butler Township Police Officer or will have an
officer return your call.
The Butler Township Police Department has recently started a Facebook page that can be reached at
https://www.facebook.com/ButlerTwpPD. In the short time the page has been in operation the response has been significant, with much information received on various posts.
The Butler Township Police Dept. wants the public to be aware the page is not monitored 24/7 and is not a substitute for calling 9-1-1. All emergencys and calls for service MUST go through 9-1-1.
Page 8 Butler Township Newsletter
At the August 20, 2018 meeting of the Butler
Township Board of Commissioners, Joe Atkinson
was appointed a Student Representative on the
Board of Commissioners. Joe will be a non-
voting member of the Board, but will have an
opportunity during each Board meeting to report
on issues that may be impacting or effecting
students in the Township.
The Butler Township Board of Commissioners
always support initiatives to foster more interest in
civic education and encourage students and young
adults to consider careers in public
administration. As stated in our program, “
Giving young people the opportunity to serve on boards and committees is a key step in encouraging them to become more
engaged in their communities. Through participation on boards, young people learn the processes by which a community is
governed and begin to understand the impact they can have on local public policy decisions. They also develop leadership,
communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills through hands-on experiences and build confidence in
themselves.” This will be the first year for this program and we are hoping that it will flourish over time and become an
integral and desired addition to the civics curriculum at the high school.
Pictured from L. to R.: Jim Lokhaiser, Fred Vero, Dave Zarnick, Joe Atkinson,
Dr. Brian White, Sam Zurzolo, Joe Wiest and Tom Knights.
E-mail us with your questions or comments
Butler Township was selected to participate in the Local
Government Academy (LGA) Municipal Intern Program
in 2018. Jake Cribbs was selected as the intern for Butler
Township and was employed at the Township from the
middle of May thru the middle of August. These paid
internships provide students who are considering a career
in government an opportunity for real world experience.
Jake was tasked with completing the 2020 Local Update
of Census Addresses (LUCA) program for Butler
Township which will be used by the Census Bureau for
the 2020 Census. During his time at Butler Township,
Jake was given opportunities to work alongside various
staff members to receive a firsthand look at many of the
processes of local government. The Township would like
to commend Jake on a job well done.
Pictured from L. to R.: Greg Butler, Executive Director of the LGA, Commissioner Dave Zarnick, Jake Cribbs, Asst. Manager Cheryl McNeill, Justin Philman, Database and LMS Administrator at the LGA.
www.ecsr.net
(866) 815-0016
Point And Pack
Are your household chemicals and electronics too heavy, or do you simply have too
much to fit in your car? Not to worry, ECS&R’s new “Point & Pack” Service will
come to you! Just fill out our online inventory sheet and we’ll notify you with a cost
estimate and a scheduled pick up date that is convenient for you.
Visit www.ecsr.net to complete an online inventory of your household chemicals and
electronics or call (866) 815-0016 for more information.
Household Hazardous Waste
ECS&R offers homeowners convenient and cost effective solutions for disposing of
household hazardous waste (HHW). If you are like many residents, you don’t want to
throw these materials away but aren’t sure what to do with them. Through the ECS&R
HHW Program, residents can drop off their materials at one of our facilities during
scheduled hours, or at one of our many County sponsored events and they will be
safely recycled, reused, or disposed of properly.
Butler Township residents can participate in the Butler County Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Collections held
through out the year at ECS&R, 129 Ash Stop Road, Evans City. Registration is required for these events and can be done
two ways. You can register by calling ECS&R at 1-866-815-0016 or you can register on line at http://www.ecsr.net/
recycling-events/. Nominal fees apply. This program is made possible by the Board of Butler County Commissioners and
by grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The remaining collection events for 2018 will be held on the following dates: September 15th, October 6th, October 20th,
November 17th, and December 15th.
More information on recycling and upcoming recycling events can be found on our website or by going to the Butler County
Waste Management website at http://www.co.butler.pa.us/recycling.
Page 9
Trick or Treat has been set for
Wednesday, October 31st
from 6:00—7:00 PM
in Butler Township.
Fall Leaf Collection will be on the following weeks:
October 22nd * November 5th * November 12th * November 26th
Leaves will be picked up on your regular pickup day in no larger than 30-gallon, biodegradable brown paper bags. Leaves placed out in plastic trash bags will not be collected.
Leaf bags are available for purchase at the Butler Township Municipal Building, 290 South Duffy Road, at a cost of 34 cents a bag, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Monday Morning Maintenance Crew is in its 8th year of
operation at Preston Park. The Crew, comprised of Butler
Township volunteers, performs yard work and general
maintenance at the township parks every Monday morning from
9 to 11:30 a.m. (weather permitting) from April through
October. Garden gloves, long sleeves, and a good sense of
humor are all that is really needed to join this group. If you are
interested in becoming a part of the group or would like more
information contact the Administration Office at extension 212.
Have you visited Preston Park lately?
Thanks to the work of the Buildings and
Grounds Department, along with the
assistance of the Monday Morning
Maintenance Crew (MMM Crew) and the
Week of Caring volunteers, Preston Park is
looking better than ever.
During 2017, Butler Township received
1,153 volunteer hours from the community
towards projects in our township parks. The
MMM Crew donated the majority of the
hours for a total of 967 hours throughout
the year. The MMM Crew has a roster of
twenty-seven people who meet Monday
mornings at Preston Park from April through October. The United Way Week of Caring was held the first week of October
in 2017 and Butler Township was host to five companies: AGR International, AK Steel, Tim Reges Insurance & Financial,
UPS and C.W. Howard Insurance, which sent a total of thirty-nine employees to do clean up work at our township parks.
They donated a total of 186 hours during the week. Our thanks goes out to the MMM Crew and the Week of Caring
volunteers for their service to the township. A value cannot be placed on the impact their time has made to the appearance
of our parks.
Some of the buildings have also received an update recently. The Maintenance Building has received a new roof and siding.
The Three Car Garage, which is used for classes and children’s activities, has also received new siding and new garage doors.
Both updates were completed due to matching grant funds received through Butler County Park Grants.
A new picnic pavilion was completed in the Fall of 2016 and is located in the Arboretum at Preston Park. This project was
coordinated by Eagle Scout candidate Jordan Surkosky. The pavilion will be able to be enjoyed by many people who visit
Preston Park thanks to Jordan and all of the other community members who assisted Jordan throughout all of the different
stages of this project.
Page 10 Butler Township Newsletter
Butler Township will be offering public tours of Preston Park
including the residence and the grounds on the following dates.
Wednesday, September 19th at 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 13th at 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, November 24th at 9:30 a.m.
This 2 to 3 hour walking tour is available at no cost, but
registration is required and space is limited. In addition to the
dates listed above, private group tours may also be arranged for
groups of 10 or more. For more information or to register for a
tour contact the Administration Office at extension 212 or
The Butler Township Park
Building is located at 468 South
Duffy Road. It is a great place to
hold your next family reunion,
graduation party, or any other
family celebration.
Information on rental fees and
availability, as well as, pictures of
the building can be found under
“Recreation” on the Butler Township website. Please
contact Marcie at 724-283-3430, ext. 212 or
[email protected] with any questions.
To reserve a date, please stop in at the Township
Municipal Building to complete the lease paperwork.
At that time you will need a check or cash for the
rental fee and a separate check for the $100.00 deposit.
The first day to reserve rental dates for 2019 will be
November 1, 2018. The doors to the Township
Municipal Building open at 8:30 A.M. Summer
weekend dates fill up quickly so come early to reserve
your date.
Commuter Service
The Butler Transit Authority now offers commuter bus service to and from Pittsburgh. Routes 1 and 2 travel Route 8 to Route 28 to and from Pittsburgh. Routes 3 and 4 service the Route 68 corridor to the Route 528 Park n Ride. The buses then express via I-79 and I-279 into the North Shore of Pittsburgh where passengers can hop aboard the free T Service to get to their final downtown destinations. The commuter service offers passengers free wifi, free park n ride lots, comfy coach seats, USB charging ports and real-time bus tracking. Passengers can subscribe to their routes to get alerts and messages from the Authority. For bus schedules and continued updates please visit the Authority’s website at www.butlertransit.com.
Bus Terminal Move
In other Transit Authority news, the downtown bus terminal will be moving October 1, 2018 to 128 West New Castle Street.
Free senior bus passes for individuals 65 and older can be obtained at the terminal as well as bus schedules and passes.
Page 11
Page 12 Butler Township Newsletter
Butler County Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce our Fall and Winter Programs coming up!
On Sunday, September 30th we have our annual Alameda Septemberfest from 10:00am-4:00pm! This is our biggest event of the year, full activities for the whole family. We have a 5k, car cruise, crafts, vendors, lots of different food vendors, and our Fishing Tournament at Alameda Waterpark!
We also have our Monster Mile, Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt, and Breakfast with Santa in October, November, and December. Pre-register for all of these events to receive a discount on each!
For more information please visit our website at http://www.co.butler.pa.us/Parks-and-Recreation or call us at 724-284-5383.
Page 13
Page 14
Assistant Township Manager Cheryl McNeill was hired in April
2016 to fill the new position of
Assistant Township Manager.
Cheryl has a bachelors degree
from the University of Pittsburgh
and has over thirty years of business management
experience in the private sector.
R e g u l a t i o n s Inspector Jim Sproat was hired in
August 2016 to fill the
position of Regulation
Inspector after the
retirement of Steve
Homison. Jim started his
training in the building
trades during high school at the A.W. Beattie Vocational
Technical School and then at I. U. P Career and Technical
Center. He became a Journeyman Carpenter thru an
apprenticeship with the Western PA Carpenters Union. He
taught as a Vocational Instructor in Carpentry and Building
Trades Education. He has been employed and involved in
the building trades for the past 20 years. He is currently
certified as a Building Code Official and has all of the UCC
Residential Certifications.
Fire Marshal Chris Switala was hired in April of
2018 to fill the position of Fire
Marshal after the retirement of Larry
Christy. Chris started in the fire
service 31 years ago as a volunteer
fire fighter. He was previously
employed at Mount Lebanon Fire
Department where he served as a
Lieutenant for 17 years. He holds bachelor degrees in
Chemistry from John Carroll University and Fire Service
Administration from State University in New York. Prior
to entering the Fire Service full time he worked as a chemist
in the Paint & Coating Industry. At Mount Lebanon Fire
Department his focus was on fire prevention, fire
inspections and smoke alarm installation, juvenile fire setter
intervention and fire investigations.
Steve Homison retired in May
2016 af ter serving as
Regulations Inspector for 12
years.
Larry Christy retired in May
2018 after serving as Fire
Marshal for 10 years. Prior to
being Fire Marshal, Larry
served over 29 years in the City
of Butler Fire Department and
has held position with
n u m er o u s b o a r d s a n d
organizations.
Edward Kirkwood retired in
July 2018 after serving as
Township Manager for over 10
years. Ed’s employment
history included over 34 years
in public service, during which
time he held positions on
various boards at the local,
county and state level.
Township
Manager
Tom Knights was hired in
July 2018 to fill the position
of Township Manager
following the retirement of
Ed Kirkwood. Tom had
served as Road Superintendent for the Township for 4
years prior to applying for the position. Tom has a
bachelors degree in Public Administration from Clarion
University. He previously held positions in Cranberry
Township as their Building Inspector and Code
Enforcement Officer and in Saxonburg Bureau and Area
Authority as their Director of Operations, Director of
Public Works and Zoning Officer.
Butler Township Newsletter
The following companies have received new business occupancies in Butler Township in 2016 & 2017. We hope you take the
time to visit and support these businesses if you have not already done so.
Emigh Jewelry Company—540 Butler Crossing
Dick’s Sporting Goods—400 Greenwood Plaza
Fierst Flooring—4 Main Street
Down Range Supply—534 Evans City Road
La Casa—138 Point Plaza
Cloud 9 Vapor Sales—105 South Duffy Road
Shannors Supplies—534 Evans City Road
Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV—1139 N. Main Street
Pfluegers Candy—205A South Duffy Road
Cummings Candy & Coffee—530 Evans City Road
Express Employment—1140 N. Main Street
The Hoagie Shop—100 Point Plaza
The Care Center—160 Alameda Plaza
Pyramid Healthcare—160 Hindman Road
Maurices—310 Butler Commons
Levin Mattress—620 Butler Crossing
Mattress Firm—200 Greenwood Plaza
Sports Clips—620 Butler Crossing
Kay Jewelers—620 Butler Crossing
70E Solutions—135 Sparks Avenue
Portraits in Minutes—400 Butler Commons
Firehouse Subs—620 Butler Crossing
UPS—620 Butler Crossing
Aspen Dental—300 Greenwood Plaza
Starbucks—310 Greenwood Plaza
D. I. Bridal Boutique—128 Evans Road
Mechling Bookbindery—124 Evans Road
Seigel Insurance—1109 North Main Street Ext.
Project Recreate—534 Fairground Hill Road, Ste. 105
De-Jay Enterprises—1132 North Main Street Ext.
T-Mobile—620 Butler Crossing
Keelan Dental—264 New Castle Road
Baglier—100 Barracks Road
American Billing—184 Pittsburgh Road
Caldwell Banker—101 Decatur Drive
Ace Hardware—260 Greater Butler Mart
Page 15
Township Telephone Numbers
Administration—724-283-3430
Tom Knights, Manager x 215 Cheryl McNeill, Assistant Manager x 220 Theresa Giesler, Township Secretary x 213 Marcie Love, Office Assistant/Treasurer x 212 Cindy Peters, Administrative Aide x 210
Zoning Department—724-287-7465
Jesse Hines, Zoning Officer x 216 James Sproat, Regulations Inspector x 211 Chris Switala, Fire Marshal x 218
Police Department—724-285-9600 For Emergencies call 9-1-1
Chief John Hays Lieutenant Matt Pearson
Road Department—724-287-0885
Thomas Knights, Superintendent of Public Works Barb Moran, Road Department Secretary
Tax Collector—724-283-3430
Olivia Wiest x 228
Butler County Court House 724-285-4731 Commissioners 724-284-5100 Assessment Office 724-284-5316 Parks & Recreation 724-284-5383 Chamber of Commerce 724-283-2222
City of Butler 724-285-4124
PA Game Commission 814-432-3187 Butler Area School District 724-287-8721 Berkheimer Tax Administrator 724-282-0377 Butler Memorial Hospital 724-283-6666
Utilities CenturyLink 1-800-366-8201 West Penn Power 1-800-686-0021 Armstrong Utilities 724-482-4480 Butler Area Sewer Authority 724-282-1978 PA American Water Company 1-800-565-7292 Peoples Natural Gas Co. 724-287-2751 Vogel Disposal 724-285-8844
Important Phone Numbers
Butler Township
Preston Park
Butler Twp. Police Dept.
