Sewickley Herald

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A Tradition Since 1903
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Sewickley Herald Star
Serving Aleppo, Bell Acres, Edgeworth, Glenfield, Haysville, Leet, Leetsdale, Osborne, Sewickley, Sewickley Heights, Sewickley Hills

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TEMPO
Whofs new in fashion will be the focus at Sewickley Valley Hospital Auxiliary's event at the Edgeworth dub. Alpacas will be in the spotlight. See Page 9..
SCHOOL
Reading is fun and fundamental. Sewickley Public Library is hosting
grade levels. See Page 23. .
SPORTS
Quaker Valley and Steve Martin, pictured, face an uphill battle to make the playoffs after OT loss to South Side Beaver. SA takes section #2 Vincentian to buzzer See Page 29.

News........................3
Opinion..................  6
Tempo......................0
School................23
Religfon......................»27
Obituaries.............27,28
Sports..................  29
Photos bt Tim Edmonson
Staff writer__________________________________
Roads and utilities projects in Sewickley have made travel in the tillage complicated lately, but the completion of these projects is in sight.
Broad Street was closed to outbound traffic between Thom and Frederick streets last Thursday and Friday.
According to Kevin Flannery, Sewickley borough manager, the street was closed to allow for a water tap-in and sewer connection with the construction project at the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.
By the weekend, the road was reopened and traffic was flowing smoothly again.
On Walnut Street, from Thom to Route 65, travel continues through an obstacle course of ditches and dirt piles. A storm sewer is being installed, made possible through a grant to the borough,
Construction on this portion of Walnut Street began Jan. 14 and is scheduled to continue until the first full week of February. If weather conditions worsen, however, the project may take longer than expected,
The installation of new gas lines near the
WALNUT STREET detours will continue into February.
Sewickley Valley YMCA is expected to come to a close at about the same time. The three-week project began on Jan. 15,
The gas company is installing a pipeline in the sidewalk along Backbone Street between Elizabeth and Blackburn. Crews are also installing pipeline from Blackburn to Centennial.
Road work interrupts drive time
By Rebecca L. Farabaugh
SEWICKLEY
Council adopts resolution #5 to escrow taxes
By Dona S. Dreeland Editor
Sewickley Borough Council's fifth resolution of the new year will set down a procedure that will keep the borough accountable in its collection of local real estate taxes.
Resolution No. 2002-65, passed last week, determines that the borough will establish an escrow account for receipts of 2002 real estate taxes in excess of the nearly $1.5 million revenue projection for this year.
Council had approved the budget on Dec. 17, which included $1.49 million to be received from real estate taxes, according to the county’s 2001 assessment figures. With these numbers in place, millage was established at 5.8 mills, the same as last year.
Now, more than a month later, while residents have received notification of the county's most recent valuation of properties, council is still without official notice of assessments throughout the borough.
This resolution will permit the borough to collect real estate taxes and save what is over and above their revenue projection for refunds due residents who get their assessments reduced.
The borough has approximately $100,000 in reserve, according to Kevin Flannery, borough manager.
Neighboring boroughs, Flannery says, have more. This fact allowed Osborne to reduce mill-age recently.
As the assessment conflict resolves itself through appeals, refunds or decertification of one set of numbers, the reserve fund •will allow council to carry out its plans for the borough this year, and perhaps to reduce tax mill-age in 2003.
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