Monessen — The Monessen City Council on Jan. 23 approved a $1,717,148 change order for the Phase 3C stormwater project and a package of contracts, engineering amendments, appointments and transfers meant to close out ongoing infrastructure work and maintain city services.

Council members who voted in favor were Councilperson Karen Cosner, Councilperson Thomas and Mayor Ron Mosher; roll-call votes recorded at the meeting were unanimous among members present. The council also approved a five-year service-and-monitoring agreement with Guardian Services for the municipal police and fire station alarm system and a week-by-week rental agreement for replacement heavy equipment while a city high-lift vehicle is repaired.

The largest approved item, described by staff as an extension to Phase 3C of the stormwater program, was presented as a change order based on bid pricing for materials and labor and reviewed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is a named project partner. Council approved the change order with no recorded dissent. Council also approved a separate lining/replacement work order for a distinct Phase 3C segment for $148,386.26 and an engineering amendment of $25,814 to eliminate a manhole and design a grate on Grand Boulevard stormwater collection work.

Other approved items included:
- A five-year alarm system installation and monitoring agreement with Guardian Services with an initial installation cost of $8,004.48 and a monthly monitoring/testing fee of $127.47, with automatic one-year renewals and a 30-day termination right at the end of each term.
- Rental of a heavy-lift tractor from Rock Tractor at $2,080 per week while city equipment is repaired.
- Payment of routine invoices across multiple city funds as listed in the meeting attachments; specific disbursements were approved from the general fund, recreation account, line usage fund and parks fund.
- Transfers of $89,329.36 from the general fund to the payroll account and $2,100 from the general fund to the health care fund, both approved by roll call.
- A $60 refund to the Monessen Refuse Authority for an overpayment on a vacant-property refuse account.
- Appointments to local authorities and boards: Dennis Wentz was appointed to the Mon Valley Sewage Authority (five-year term), John Mandarina to the Mon Valley Refuse Authority (five-year term), Joe Bosick and Virginia Monahan to the Monessen Public Library Board of Trustees (three-year terms), Dawn McCatchney to the Monessen Public Library Board (three-year term), Philip Mandarina to the Monessen Redevelopment Authority (five-year term), and Hunter Stangroom to the Monessen Police Accountability and Internal Affairs Board (five-year term).

Councilmembers offered brief clarifications on several items during roll call; presenters said the stormwater work is being funded through existing grant funds tied to the USDA project and would not draw additional local levy dollars for the current change order. The city solicitor reported that the initial USDA financing schedule required extension and that PNC Bank financing arrangements were being finalized.

Votes at a glance
- Approve Guardian Services alarm contract (5-year term, initial cost $8,004.48; monthly fee $127.47) — Outcome: approved; Yes: Cosner, Thomas, Mosher.
- Pay Sewer Stormwater Phase 3C change order No. 3 — Amount: $1,717,148 — Outcome: approved; Yes: Cosner, Thomas, Mosher.
- Pay Phase 3C lining/replacement change order No. 2 — Amount: $148,386.26 — Outcome: approved; Yes: Cosner, Thomas, Mosher.
- WC amendment No. 8 (engineering) — Amount: $25,814 — Outcome: approved; Yes: Cosner, Thomas, Mosher.
- Refund to Mon Valley Refuse Authority — Amount: $60 — Outcome: approved; Yes: Cosner, Thomas, Mosher.
- Appointments to authorities and boards (multiple) — Outcome: approved; Yes: Cosner, Thomas, Mosher.
- Tractor rental with Rock Tractor — Rate: $2,080/week — Outcome: approved; Yes: Cosner, Thomas, Mosher.
- Transfers and invoice payments across funds (see agenda attachments) — Outcome: approved; Yes: Cosner, Thomas, Mosher.

The council's approvals advance the multi-year stormwater program and allow staff to continue closeout and engineering work on projects previously described at work sessions. Several items were presented as routine consent-style motions and carried on unanimous roll-call votes of those present.