World War I memorial sought in Brackenridge
BRACKENRIDGE -- Council is investigating a proposal to erect a World War I memorial in Brackenridge Memorial Park at no cost to the borough.
Steelworkers Local 1196 and the American Legion Post 226 sent a letter to Mayor Gilmore Hendrickson requesting council approval to begin plans to erect the memorial. The memorial, currently housed at the Tarentum Historical Society, is a 7- by 4- foot stainless steel structure featuring the names of World War I veterans from Allegheny Ludlum.
Borough officials did not take any action on approving the memorial because there are questions about the foundation of the structure. Officials want to research the blueprints of the memorial and look at it before approving the installation.
If approved, the memorial will be dedicated on Veteran's Day.
In other business:
Borough officials, pending Allegheny County approval and a report from the borough engineer, plan to test a two-shift work schedule at the Brackenridge Water Plant effective Jan. 29.
The plant supplies water to Brackenridge and sells water to Fawn and Frazer.
The water plant employs four pump operators and five street employees. With the resignation of Dugan, there will be three pump operators. Borough officials are unsure if Dugan will be replaced. The plant operates shifts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 4 p.m. to midnight and midnight to 8 a.m. With the new schedule, the midnight to 8 a.m. shift would be eliminated.
According to Borough Secretary, Denise Tocco, the midnight shift is the logical shift to be eliminated as there is less water consumption overnight. The reserves would be filled before midnight and then the pumps would shut down. The pumps will then come on again at 8 a.m.
The water plant pumps 1.5 million gallons of water to Brackenridge daily. Figures on the amount of water pumped to Frazer and Fawn were unavailable. The water reserve holds 3 million gallons of water.
Borough officials will contact Fawn and Frazer with a set time they can pump for the plant as to ensure reserves are maintained. A call list will also be established so that an employee is on-call overnight in case of an emergency.
Once the two-shift schedule is tested, council will decide on whether to continue the new schedule or return to the one currently in place.
Council said it will notify the union representing the water plant employees of the proposed schedule change.
