Heidelberg Garners Statewide Honors

Two of Heidelberg’s municipal leaders and the borough’s website received statewide honors Tuesday night from the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs.

Mayor Kenneth LaSota received the 2010 Distinguished Service Award for his influence in local projects and initiatives that benefited Heidelberg. Jeffrey Heishman, vice president of the boroughs association, presented LaSota with a plaque and commemorative clock.

“It takes a lot of work to be eligible for this award,” Heishman said.

Meanwhile, Heidelberg’s website was awarded 1st place in the 2011 Borough News Municipal Website Contest. The site, which is maintained by borough Manager Joe Kauer, had finished second the previous three years before garnering the top honor. Kauer said the website is an inexpensive took to get news and information out to residents.

“Your borough is cleaning up tonight,” Heishman said as he presented Kauer with a plaque.

Council President Ray Losego, who did not attend , also received the Cecil K. Leberknight award for 10 years of continuous public service. Losego originally joined the borough council in March 2001.

Also during the meeting…

• The borough’s cleanup day will now take place on May 7 after rain Saturday postponed the event. Meanwhile the borough-wide garage sale is scheduled for May 21.

• Planning may begin soon for Heidelberg’s multimillion-dollar streetscape project along Route 50. The design phase with the borough, PennDOT and architects is expected to take about eight months.

• Heidelberg police Chief Vernon Barkley announced that his department and some borough workers collected money to donate to the Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund. The $200 will go to a memorial statue in Bloomfield for the three Pittsburgh police officers killed during a shootout two years ago.

• Council agreed to purchase a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle for $29,669 and spend an additional $8,788 to outfit it and another police cruiser. The borough received $30,000 in grants to help pay for the vehicle, and will sell its 2006 police cruiser.