Voters in Emsworth and Ben Avon will have the only real local government choices to make in the Nov. 8 general election.

In Emsworth, four candidates are seeking election to three four-year seats on the borough council, while Ben Avon voters will fill three council seats from among five candidates.

The Avalon Borough tax office will accept current and past due earned income tax payments only until June 30.

After that time, said tax collector Ed Klicker, arrangements for payment will have to be made with the new collector, Keystone.

By VICKI MORTIMER

In rapid-fire succession, Avalon Council adopted a number of ordinances and motions at their meeting on Dec. 30, most with no discussion.

A rundown property. Absentee owner. Code violations on top of code violations. Months in the court system. Fines levied that are never collected. Liens filed against the property to the point that they exceed the value of the property itself.

This is a far too common scenario in municipalities across the state, as officials struggle to eliminate blight that experts say will spread like the flu if left unchecked, taking down property values in the entire community.

The Borough of Bellevue once again will advertise in The Citizen the names of people who have not made payments on their 2010 borough real estate taxes.

Tax collector Joe Nolan said that taxpayers who have installment payment plans will not be included in the published list.

Nolan said that he expects to have the list ready for publication in late November. Anyone with questions about tax payments can call him at (412)766-1885 or e-mail him at Bellevuetax@gmail.com.

It was all about filling vacancies when the Kilbuck Township Supervisors held a special meeting Tuesday.

With new supervisor Tom Tomaro participating by phone from Greensboro, NC, the board voted to fill a vacant supervisor's seat, as well as the position of tax collector for the township.

Chairman John Fader said that two "very qualified" people had applied for the supervisor's position left vacant when Susan Merckner resigned in December. Both had agreed to accept other positions in township government if not appointed supervisor, Fader said.

Lloyd Corder was elected president of a Ben Avon Council that features three brand new members.

New mayor Bob Jones, re-elected tax collector Carmella Hallstein and the three new council members were sworn in, along with the re-elected Corder, during last Monday’s reorganization meeting. Pictured taking the oath of office, administered by District Judge Tara Smith, are, from left, Republicans Brian Tokar, Richard Galbraith and Corder, and Democrat Richard White.

Sue Weiss was elected vice president of council.

Photo by Connie Rankin for The Citizen

Tempers flared at Emsworth Council's regular meeting on Wednesday during a normally routine item on council's agenda.

When it came time to approve the boroughs bill’s for the month, finance committee chairman David Heflin questioned two of the expenditures on the bill list, neither of which had received pre-approval from council.

The first was $321 for an appreciation dinner held for former borough solicitor Mike Marmo. The second was the painting of two of the borough's trucks at a cost of $1,500.

Bellevue tax collector Joe Nolan announced last week that he is seeking the Republican nomination to run for the United States Congress in the 14th Congressional District.

The 14th District is represented by Democrat Mike Doyle.

Nolan, who previously served on Bellevue Council, is the owner of a tax service business in Bellevue. His wife, Susan, is a member of the Northgate School Board.