Heidelberg Gets Weather Designation

Heidelberg recently completed the necessary steps to become the just the second municipality in Allegheny County to qualify for the National Weather Service's storm readiness certification.

Fred McMullen, the warning coordinator meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Moon, presented borough officials with a certificate and two street signs that will be installed in Heidelberg.

The borough's emergency responders and some residents have been working on the "StormReady" plan for the past five months by participating in training, drills and safety seminars to learn how to prepare for dealing with severe weather.

“They have the infrastructure in place to warn their citizens in case of an emergency,” McMullen said during the borough’s Tuesday night council meeting. “The main thing is to help the residents.”

Also during the meeting…

-The borough recognized Larry and Annie Klein for their effort to help neighbors or other residents during 2010. The couple also helped shovel nearby sidewalks, receiving the Mayoral Service Recognition Award and a brand new snow shovel.

-Council approved Dolly Kosol for the borough’s zoning hearing board, and also appointed Bessie Kwasniewski, Albert Kosol Jr. and Mary Anne Morgan to the planning commission.

-Council agreed to purchase a 2011 JCB backhoe for the borough’s one-man public works department at a cost of $73,363. Mayor Ken LaSotta said he disagreed with the decision because it would “significantly increase and expand the duties” of the worker.