[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6528758,"mediaKeyId","5386721-08a76d4eb6193ba3a8aa39cb5cd794fd","parentId",5386721,"title","Peoples Natural Gas details long-term pipeline replacement in Altoona, says city coordination ongoing","audioSeconds",2260,"startMs",112000,"endMs",2372000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386721-08a76d4eb6193ba3a8aa39cb5cd794fd&start=112&end=2372","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386721-08a76d4eb6193ba3a8aa39cb5cd794fd/thumbnail_112000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6528758/Altoona-City/Blair-County/Pennsylvania/Peoples-Natural-Gas-details-long-term-pipeline-replacement-in-Altoona-says-city-coordination-ongoing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528758-e6d6128bb6c860c2d4003d0cd44867ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185794&Signature=RDCdyZly0n4mmOIt~HLjpE3Nsg~tjgnnkEJeo9WDdelefk1VHcP0wupHcnzDbHEi9GVC~tVIJd4bKReMwBkVo2ABZytZMhDYcGAXYQbq91WaPYsQQCNHC4USuoo~9U2cg6t-8nkNO9prEzRyvDYgYw91t0IeI8bz8hpq04kKMkV-BUawbyly-DTdzGb9mjEMUmGVz-BOdb8LwFbeS1BLX3Q4~SBkHPh~sw3FmjckYK8oexBDKHU7qFxT-~mTlVSM85ci3lG9fD0U2~LfqNfraJELA1pOSp-iorRtnLKLtDUZZTfePoBfb~NYUjkji-XlV3EcBXnOd45ZF3aDVYI43Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Altoona, PA","date","2025-06-11T17:41:44Z","article","Peoples Natural Gas representatives told the Altoona City Council on July 14 that the company’s long-term infrastructure program will continue multi-year replacement of aging pipe in the city and that residents can track project status online.

Doug Minnick, restoration manager for Peoples Natural Gas, said LTIP — the company’s Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan — is a 20-year program intended to “replace 3,000 miles of our aging pipeline infrastructure by the year 2034.” He said the company is currently in year 11 of the program and is replacing bare steel pipe with plastic pipe to improve safety and reliability.

Minnick said that, company-wide, about 1,000 miles of pipe have been replaced over the past decade. Specific to Altoona, he told council that since 2020 Peoples has completed about 176 projects representing roughly $21,900,000 of investment and about 40 miles of replaced pipe. He said about 63 miles of targeted pipeline remain in the city and that the company’s plan for 2025 is to replace roughly 10 miles, with a similar pace intended for future years.

Minnick described factors that affect the schedule, including the pipeline integrity group’s prioritization of replacements, whether work is in streets or sidewalks, and efforts to coordinate with other utilities and the city’s paving program to reduce repeated disruption. He said restoration work — paving, sidewalk repair, and lawn restoration — often follows separate contractors and phases. He pointed council members to a public-facing project map on the company website where residents can enter an address to see whether a job is in planning, active construction, or restoration.

Council members acknowledged concerns about surface restoration after utility work. During council discussion, members said the city and utilities need to be “vigilant” to ensure streets are returned to usable condition and noted weather and storm-related delays have slowed some repairs this season.

The company provided contact emails for follow-up questions and offered to share the presentation map with staff for use in city coordination.

Why it matters: Peoples’ program is a long-running, citywide replacement effort that will involve recurring street, sidewalk and right-of-way work. Coordination between the utility and city paving and restoration schedules affects traffic, parking, and the timing of local paving work.

Ending: Council did not take action on the presentation; city staff said they will continue coordinating with Peoples Natural Gas on scheduling and restoration, and residents seeking status on individual addresses were directed to the company’s online construction map.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Altoona City Council Meeting, July 14th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Peoples Natural Gas representatives told the Altoona City Council on July 14 that the company’s Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan will continue multi-year pipeline replacement in the city and that residents can check job status on an online project map.","taxTitle","Altoona City, Blair County, Pennsylvania","taxId",5059,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6528747,"Altoona council approves multiple ordinances, grant application and contracts; several depository bids fail",1195,1256000,2451000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386721-08a76d4eb6193ba3a8aa39cb5cd794fd&start=1256&end=2451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386721-08a76d4eb6193ba3a8aa39cb5cd794fd/thumbnail_1256000.jpg","/articles/6528747/Altoona-City/Blair-County/Pennsylvania/Altoona-council-approves-multiple-ordinances-grant-application-and-contracts-several-depository-bids-fail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528747-dd24e3feebc46d6ae24fe5eae95cd980/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185794&Signature=lzzxngH7SvKo~3cd4ZvWkU0i2hn5c~DJoGW~P0PaLTjYp1AQHlvNQGxy6PX1aq4MMJ73ZvgUXo7q-0unuXkomryZaQKPFVqx9J6ZySEwgwXEzA0o2b3gYxHuaBcoGg40hRze-umG2CggKmvAvwq3ohX1s0q5-mGbLoil05JOW5wyGtLUbgwUZ8npwrXnkibNTGQsQwZ2D11YFkxqLARuKi6zgaWAQdZxgsCToxoWNOSa2g1BfS3lpcit-E6OLVVf2wlELXXRXeDwRDrXyaeIP8g6HgkollcFjawW1xglgr1ciAPTP6WCPZDaBsADXBjTBIqj7HxM~EU~tOdLmpRl2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Altoona City Council on July 14 approved a package of routine and policy items and adopted four ordinances. The meeting record shows multiple consent items passed unanimously while four depository bids that were pulled for separate consideration were defeated unanimously.

Consent and contract approvals (items a–l):
- The council approved the minutes from the June 9 meeting (item a).
- Item B: Awarded an Ash Tree Treatment Project to Bonetti Tree Service of Altoona for $13,410, payable from the general fund; city manager authorized to execute documents.
- Item C: Authorized the submission of an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a multimodal transportation fund grant for Baker Boulevard traffic-calming improvements. The transcript lists inconsistent numeric values for the grant and match; an exact grant amount and match were not clearly specified in the meeting record.
- Item D: Authorized right-of-way acquisition by PennDOT for a small portion of land used by the water authority on Mill Run Road for $500 and authorized execution of documents.
- Item E: Authorized a professional services agreement with Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance for services in accordance with applicable construction and local codes (amount not specified in the transcript).
- Item F: Approved an agreement with OpenGov for phase 1 software for code enforcement, community development, and public works for $272,449.68; city manager authorized to execute documents.
- Items G–K: Awarded a series of demolition contracts to J & R Excavating with amounts listed in the agenda: $17,100 (903 Second Avenue), $12,200 (1010 Third Avenue), $9,940 (50920 First Street), $13,800 (227 Third Avenue), and $850 (1000 And Third Avenue).
- Item L: Approved a repository bid of $525 submitted by J and R Pennsylvania Properties LLC for property at 819 Sixth Avenue.

Items M–P (depository bids by Amarillis Rodriguez) were pulled for individual consideration and then voted on separately. The council voted 0–7 on the separate vote; the motion did not pass. The items and amounts were: M ($200 for 2030 Sixth Avenue), N ($200 for 810 Sixth Avenue), O ($300 for 601 Third Avenue), and P ($300 for 607 Third Avenue). The transcript records the failed vote as 0–7.

Ordinances adopted:
- A guarantee ordinance was adopted authorizing the city to guaranty payments under a debt obligation of the Altoona Water Authority to the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000; moved by Councilman Butterbaugh and seconded by Mayor Pacifico. Roll call: Councilman Beatty, Councilman Butterbaugh, Councilwoman Klenich, Vice Mayor Ellis, Councilman Ickis, Councilman Kelly and Mayor Pacifico all voted yes; the motion passed 7–0.
- The council adopted an amendment to the personnel code adding Section 11.9, a Voluntary Leave Donation Program; passed 7–0 on roll call.
- The council adopted an amendment to chapter 550 (Property Maintenance) adopting the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 edition; passed 7–0.
- The council adopted amendments to chapter 711 (Vehicle Storage and Parking) to add recreational vehicle and vehicle parking requirements; passed 7–0.

Votes and procedure: The initial consent vote on items a–l passed 7–0. The council then used a consent vote approach for items m–p after those items were pulled, and the separate roll call on the pulled items resulted in a 0–7 vote (motion did not pass). Several ordinances were introduced earlier in the meeting for first reading and later adopted; the four adoptions recorded above were carried by unanimous roll call votes.

Why it matters: The approvals advance city code enforcement tools (property maintenance and permitting software), authorize municipal support for water-authority borrowing, and fund immediate maintenance work such as tree treatment and demolition. The failed depository bids (items m–p) and the council's decision to pull them indicate closer scrutiny of property depositories and local ownership questions.

Ending: Council discussion noted that some demolition and restoration work will follow city and utility projects; the OpenGov contract was described by staff as an enterprise transformation tool for permitting, asset management, and financial reporting. Additional ordinances and a separate proposed ordinance to change licensing for tradesmen are expected to be introduced in coming meetings.","The Altoona City Council on July 14 approved a package of consent items and adopted four ordinances, including a guarantee for Altoona Water Authority borrowing and an OpenGov software contract; four depository bids pulled for separate consideration failed 0–7.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6528752,"Residents demand answers after officer-involved incident; council cites personnel rules and Right-to-Know process",1784,847000,2631000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386721-08a76d4eb6193ba3a8aa39cb5cd794fd&start=847&end=2631","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386721-08a76d4eb6193ba3a8aa39cb5cd794fd/thumbnail_847000.jpg","/articles/6528752/Altoona-City/Blair-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-demand-answers-after-officer-involved-incident-council-cites-personnel-rules-and-Right-to-Know-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528752-38aecb33334d9c872906cbd31b3503a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185794&Signature=G6TUwUYxohe0l~NfytSjIanTLtmRac99gM-WF9AwtRYelwEbN~usAp6SlYvGOrQPjpm0IScHQ6~Rq-3RLgxNLWk2eYyce8HqwtWpOlO3RthPj-M-AIsyxZkZ1~KlCq1YD~NE9GmPMgmSLUzNp6MvvNLs7q~AmrXPA7V8IoQM7ufgrpvm6EwhiLlZVB6A3uy20~Bp1jXE~kvtn83uoFbn2-BOBy1D7MzPfQnnTyj4zoxMwrWKS8I88YqOJEKU5-GJmhhd2qlZb2TZGx3283091rHbwKI7xT1TMm3NCRyJcjwtwuYzqz31JTZX9PQo4GVlO~kj6CS9VzRm1CG0qUmDrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used the public-comment portion of the July 14 Altoona City Council meeting to demand transparency and accountability after a recent officer-involved incident involving Officer Glass.

Bridget Jackson, who identified herself as a concerned resident and community advocate, said the city had been silent since the incident and asked whether the officer had been placed on administrative leave and whether an independent investigation had been launched. “That silence is deafening,” Jackson said. “When those sworn to protect us cause harm and are shielded from accountability, it erodes public trust.”

Other residents pressed for immediate disclosure of body-worn camera footage. Tim Baker asked the mayor and council to release the footage, and noted concerns raised in local reporting about whether arrest procedures were followed.

Sarah Edmiston, a licensed clinical psychologist, urged the council to handle the matter through a trauma-informed lens, saying police misconduct harms individual well-being and public trust.

Council members declined to discuss specifics, saying the incident is a personnel matter. A city staff member identified as Mike said a formal request for body-worn camera recordings would have to go through the proper channels — for example, a Right-to-Know Law request — and that exemptions could apply. When asked whether any administrative action had been taken against Officer Travis Glass, the staff member said, “Not to my knowledge, but until there is, we’ll have no comment.”

Why it matters: The public comments reflect community concern over alleged misconduct, the transparency of police processes, and the limits of what elected bodies can disclose about personnel matters. Residents asked for independent investigation, public acknowledgement, and policy changes to reduce future incidents.

Ending: Council did not announce any administrative action at the meeting. Staff advised that formal records or footage requests follow the Right-to-Know process and cautioned that some exemptions may apply.","Several residents urged the Altoona City Council on July 14 to disclose information and seek accountability following a recent officer-involved incident involving Officer Glass.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Peoples Natural Gas details long-term pipeline replacement in Altoona, says city coordination ongoing

Altoona council approves multiple ordinances, grant application and contracts; several depository bids fail

Residents demand answers after officer-involved incident; council cites personnel rules and Right-to-Know process