South Huntingdon Township supervisors Thursday approved a subdivision for a proposed fire-training center at Interstate 70 Industrial Park. John Surmacz of Westmoreland County's Planning and Community Development Department said the 165-acre subdivision could be used for the Westmoreland County Community College project. "This is the first step," Surmacz said. The subdivision must be approved by the county commissioners before the land can be transferred to the community college, he said. The parcel is part of the county's 600-acre industrial park near Smithton. In recent weeks, the college's board of trustees hired JSA Architects and Engineers of Pittsburgh and authorized the State Public School Board Authority to negotiate the sale of $8 million in bonds for construction. The county commissioners and the Pennsylvania Department of Education agreed to fund repayment of the construction bonds on a 50-50 basis. College officials said the fire-training center would feature classrooms and a $2 million "burn building." It could serve approximately 8,000 fire, police and emergency service personnel from southwestern Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Construction could begin as early as spring, pending approvals of the project. Township Supervisor Scott Painter said the project would benefit the fire departments. In other business, the township's proposed 2002 budget is on display, with a final vote slated for Dec. 13. Property taxes would remain at 2 mills - the same level for 35 years. Expenditures total $1,070,268, about $10,000 less than this year's budget. Painter said there will be no cuts in services or programs. Among the expenses are $69,639 for general government, $41,500 for health and welfare, and $574,499 for roads.

---

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

---