K-9 vehicle to go home with police chief
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Punxsutawney Borough Police K-9 Officer Fury will be riding in style every night as borough council approved a motion for Police Chief Matt Conrad to take the vehicle home in case a call comes during the night or while off-duty.
Larry Chenoga, council member, congratulated Conrad on an outstanding report for the department and keeping the overtime to a minimum.
“A lot of people don’t realize that Fury, our K-9 officer, has been certified as a search and rescue dog, along with being a drug dog,” Chenoga said. “When you’re dealing with search and rescue, time is of the utmost importance.”
Chenoga asked council to allow the chief to take the vehicle, which is outfitted for the K-9 officer, home with him because of the time it costs to travel to the police department before a call.
“What he does is near and dear to my heart, having gone through one of these tragedies when I was a young person,” Chenoga said. “I would like for him to take the police vehicle home as he is on-call.”
Conrad said the St. Marys and DuBois City police departments have patrol dogs, and Punxsy is trying to get them all in the same call box. That way, if something happens in Jefferson County, Elk and Clearfield counties will automatically come down.
“That way, we’ll have three dogs here and vice versa, and we can go over there and assist them,” he said.
In other business:
• Part-time officer: Council approved Conrad’s request to interview applicants for a part-time police officer position that has come open.
• Eagles request: Dennis Fetterman, from the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 1231 secretary, requested permission to hold the annual 9/11 tribute in Barclay Square at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.
Council approved the request.
• Fun run: Ann Koppenhaver requested permission to host a fun run, Mile for a Smile, during Festival in the Park at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 30.
“We would like the fun run to take place on West Mahoning Street, beginning at the corner of North Alley and West Mahoning Street and ending at approximately the Fireman Phil statue,” Koppenhaver said.
West Mahoning Street will be closed from 7 to 7:30 p.m.
Registration will take place from 6 to 6:45 p.m. in the park at the Miles for Smiles table.
The race will be for all ages and abilities.
There will be a suggested $5 donation to Miles for Smiles for any participant 13 and older, and all children 12 and under will be free.
Council approved the request.
• Indiana Street project: Toby Santik, borough manager, announced that all sanitary and storm sewer lines have been installed.
He said paving on the state portion of Indiana Street and Gaskill Avenue was completed on May 1.
“Trench restoration on the municipal portion of Indiana Street, Spruce Street and Shermerhorn Avenue was completed on May 3,” Santik said, adding that a final walk through was completed on May 12 and punch list items were addressed on May 13.
Council approved the final pay request to Kukurin in the amount of $220,893.18.
Santik said the project came in $160,000 under budget.
• East End Playground Grant — Santik said DCNR awarded a grant in the amount of $87,900 for the construction of pavilions and a tennis/pickleball court.
“This grant requires a $87,900 local match by the borough, which can be in the form of in-kind services,” Santik said.
• Liquid fuels paving: Council awarded Hager Paving a contract in the amount of $185,426.25 for this summer’s paving.
• Walnut Alley: Council rescinded a motion made during the May 10 council meeting to rename Walnut Alley to White Alley.
Santik said the alley must remain Walnut Alley due to an ordinance.
• Free parking: Council approved a request to allow free parking during the farmers market from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday.
The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 12.