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Connellsville council raises collection, sidewalk and utility-permit concerns with West Penn Power and other utilities
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Summary
Council members and staff discussed municipal digging permits, nearly $10,000 in unpaid fees from a utility company, damaged sidewalks and utility poles, and the city's options to enforce permit and repair requirements.
Connellsville — City council members on Oct. 21 asked staff to review legal and collection options after officials said West Penn Power has not paid nearly $10,000 in fees related to the city’s digging ordinance and has claimed an exemption.
During the public-works update, council members and staff recounted repeated sidewalk and right-of-way damage from utility work and installations, including pole replacements and residual excavation patches. Staff said the city charges a $500 digging permit for work in city streets, with a partial $200 refund if the restoration meets city standards.
Council members said PA American Water and Columbia Gas have paid previous invoices, and staff noted the city has a long-standing digging-permit ordinance. According to the conversation on the record, West Penn Power has told city staff it believes it is exempt and has resisted payment; the council asked the solicitor and staff to examine legal options for collection and enforcement.
Public-works staff also described ongoing street, sidewalk and utility projects across the city, including boring work across the river, sidewalk repairs on Pittsburgh Street, and upcoming paving in locations affected by utility work. The department said contractor Lee’s Plumbing and a PA American subcontractor were working on sidewalk ramps and paving schedules tied to those projects.
Council members and staff emphasized the city’s interest in seeing right-of-way repairs completed and in holding utilities to the same restoration standards applied to private contractors. City staff said details on collections and any legal next steps would require further review by the solicitor.
No new ordinance amendments were adopted at the meeting; council directed staff to follow up on collections, to document outstanding invoices and to report back with legal options.
