Council amends policy on roads in winter

Peters council unanimously adopted a new winter storm road maintenance policy on July 22, replacing an outdated policy from 1991.

“The snow removal policy was actually our oldest policy,” said assistant manager Ryan Jeroski.

The township is responsible for winter maintenance on more than 136 miles of local and state roads.

The new policy adds language regarding sidewalk maintenance, snow removal in residential developments and a review process for state roads maintained by the township’s public works department.

Included in the policy is a reminder that snow removal on sidewalks is the responsibility of the property owner and must be done within 24 hours of a snowstorm. The policy states the township will be responsible for snow removal on sidewalks abutting the McMurray Town Center.

Peters has a winter municipal snow removal agreement with PennDOT. The agreement states the township will maintain about 39 miles of state roads for a fee of $ 50,550 to be paid by PennDOT.

It also amends language related to snow and ice emergencies and the call- out process for private street emergencies.

The policy states snow removal on private roads is the responsibility of the property owners with the lone exception being “emergency situations that directly threaten the life, health or property of a resident along a private road.”

In other business, council unanimously agreed to apply for a $ 2 million state Multimodal Transportation Fund grant for phase two of the construction of Rolling Hills Drive. The road will run through the former Rolling Hills Country Club property and will serve the township’s proposed Rolling Hills Park and the new Peters Township High School.

Mr. Jeroski said the total cost estimate for phase two of the road is $ 3.2 million. The township and school district would be contributing $ 1.2 million toward the project.