Avalon Council has approved the first two readings of an ordinance that will make sure restaurant grease will not go into the borough's sewer system.

The ordinance will impose regulations for grease traps in food preparation facilities, including restaurants, school cafeterias, etc.

Engineer Shawn Rosensteel said that the ordinance is needed in conjunction with the mandated plan for sanitary sewer maintenance currently under development, and that preventing grease dumping will save the borough whe

A new skate plaza should be open in Bayne Park by July, as the final approval for the project’s design is expected to come from Bellevue Council next week.

Local skateboarders requested a few changes to the design submitted by Spohn Ranch, the company that also will build the facility.

The project as planned consists of three independent phases, with construction of the first phase occurring this spring. Council then has the option to add to the plaza with the subsequent phases, or to stop after the first.

Despite facing some costly infrastructure repairs, Ben Avon Heights officials have agreed not to raise the property tax millage rate in 2012, but may look at imposing a sewer surcharge.

The construction of a retaining wall on Briarcliff Road -- along with the associated engineering, easement and utility line movement costs -- could carry a price tag as high as $200,000, according to council president Mark Davis.

Bellevue’s engineer will be asked to provide alternate plans for parking and handicapped-accessible ramps in Bayne Park while council wrangles with what work should be done in conjunction with the construction of a skate plaza there.

Plans to extend the current lot and widen the driveway to accommodate two passing vehicles met with opposition from elected officials and residents due to the amount of “green” space that would be lost.

Ben Avon accepted a bid from Pampena Landscaping & Construction last month for the Rostraver wall reconstruction and storm drainage system replacement project. Borough engineer Ed McGee said work should begin in August and it should be a short project.

He added that some of the stones from the wall seem to be in good shape, and the borough may try to salvage them for future use.

Council plans to send a letter to residents giving them more details about the project.

Bellevue has matters well in hand when it comes to meeting wet weather mandates, according to the director of the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Project.

The Kilbuck Township Planning Commission has given conditional approval to the Carey's Bluff housing development, with details to be worked out before final approval is received from the township supervisors.

Problems with a wall that is crumbling on Spruce Run have Ben Avon council members reconsidering their capital spending for the coming year.

Hal Deily of Spruce Street discussed the situation with council at Tuesday's meeting, saying that the water starts up by I-279, and as it gains momentum, it goes through Bellevue, through Avalon, "and through our front yards. The wall was not built to hold it. It's a critical problem."

Although most of the homes in the proposed Carey's Bluff development will lie within Glenfield Borough, one key element is planned for Kilbuck Township, where officials are hoping to protect Kilbuck and its residents from any future problems.

Developers of the community -- which will include both single family homes and condominiums -- along Toms Run Road want to place a sewage treatment plant on the Kilbuck side of the border, but officials want to make sure that plant doesn't end up costing Kilbuck in the future.

Rev. John Guest, senior pastor and rector of Christ Church at Grove Farm delivered farewell comments, along with his final sermon, to congregants on Sunday, Dec. 26, ending his work in those positions he has held for nearly the entire 15 years that the church has existed in its Duff Road location.

The Ohio Township church was formed in 1995 with approximately 120 people worshiping each week. Under Dr. Guest's leadership, attendance has grown to four Sunday morning services with the current participation of more than 1,500 people.

Replacing a sewer line on the Avalon - Bellevue border carries a steep price tag, and not just in dollars and cents.

While the nearly $400,000 estimated cost of the West Bellevue Station sewer is something neither borough expected before a few months ago, the higher price may be paid in the relationship between the two governments as they wrangle over how to split the cost.

Avalon borough engineer Shawn Rosensteel told officials from that borough Tuesday that a plan to address the badly deteriorated and broken sewer line has been prepared.

Several projects to improve Bellevue's infrastructure have been completed, are under way or about to begin, according to a report by the borough's engineer.

Engineer John Rusnak told council members at their regular meeting Tuesday that work to install handicapped accessible sidewalk ramps, as well as the paving of Davis Avenue, have been completed.