Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Murrysville public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
24 issues with medium priority
Ogagan residence steep slopes excavation, Shag Bark Grove Court
A single-family home on Saltsburg Road needs a conditional use for slope disturbance along an 850-foot driveway, with a stormwater facility and about three acres of disturbance.
2027 Salary Ordinance (No. 1114-26)
The first step toward setting municipal employee pay for 2027. Advertising the ordinance starts the public process that will eventually set staffing costs in the municipal budget.
Lions Run Mine Drainage Treatment Success
MAWA's passive treatment system is removing nearly all iron, acidity, and aluminum from Lions Run, and fish and salamanders have returned downstream. Maintenance was completed this year, with the next round expected in three to four years.
White Valley Active Mine Drainage Treatment Project
MAWA won a $2.1 million grant to design an active treatment plant for the White Valley mine discharge near Export, handling up to 4 million gallons per day of heavily polluted water, with CEC and AMD Industries selected as engineering partners.
Fire Truck Purchase for Sardis
The 2027 emergency equipment fund includes a $1.39 million fire truck — the next in the replacement rotation for the Sardis fire company — funded by a dedicated 1.35 mil tax.
Motor Grader Replacement
The aging road grader (over 40 years old, parts unavailable) isn't in the 2027 capital budget because the municipality is waiting on a statewide LSA grant; if the grant fails, staff would return to council to reallocate funds.
Road salt supply secured for winter
It's been a brutal January — Public Works has had 18 call-outs and used roughly 2,400 tons of salt, around $225,000 worth. The salt bin and reserve are full, deliveries are timely, and no shortages are expected, though some neighboring municipalities are struggling.
Light pollution and traffic concerns near commercial corridor
A longtime resident says Murrysville's commercial growth has already erased his night sky and worries a supercenter will make it worse, plus he flagged a possibly blind entrance on Wilson Road. These issues will be revisited during land development review.
2027 Pension Obligation
The aggregated pension fund returned over 13% in 2025 and grew to $34.7 million. The police plan is 96% funded and the non-uniformed plan is 103.6% funded — strong numbers that keep retirement obligations healthy without extra taxpayer strain.
Next Comprehensive Plan process
Council pressed staff to prioritize the long-delayed comprehensive plan RFP. A mostly complete draft exists and could reach Council within the next couple of meetings.
Stormwater runoff and pre-existing tree clearing
Residents reported new flooding and swamp-like yards since trees were cleared on the site, and asked that stormwater plans account for runoff already being caused by preemptive clearing.
Honeybee apiary regulations
A resident cited for keeping backyard bees asked Council to relax the rule requiring 10 acres. A draft zoning change is already in front of the Planning Commission and will come to Council eventually.
LED sign standards on Route 22
The 20-year-old electric sign rules require amber-only displays, and businesses that got compliance letters are asking Council to modernize the ordinance for today's LED technology.
Police radio encryption upgrade
Westmoreland County is rolling out CJIS-required radio encryption, so Murrysville police need 36 new radios — about $260,000. Council is chasing a state LSA grant to pay for it since the county isn't offering funding.
E-scooters and e-bikes on public streets
A resident reported near-misses with young teens on motorized scooters in her elderly-heavy neighborhood and asked what the town can do. Council said e-bike/scooter ordinances are a nationwide issue and agreed the topic needs discussion.
Joint comprehensive plan with Export
Murrysville is applying for a $75,000 state grant to plan its future jointly with the Borough of Export — coordinating land use, economic development and transportation across the two communities, with a process expected to take one to two years.
Road surface treatment project
Council awarded the annual road paving contract to Derry Construction, capped at $1.5 million from the capital budget.
Bike patrol on the trail
Police have begun bike patrols on the trail, with over ten officers participating, plus trail markers geolocated for faster 911 response.
Sportsmens Club zoning settlement
A years-long dispute between the Sportsmen's Club, neighbors, and the municipality is being settled.
Fee Ordinance increases
Police video request fees would jump from $100 to $500, and burning permit fees would rise for the first time in years — $50 for a five-year permit instead of $5.
Murrysville library reopening and outdoor seating requirement
The renovated library should reopen later this month, including a certified autism-friendly sensory space. It still must add outdoor seating for its grant, and the sidewalk project may help with the ADA landscaping challenge.
Code Appeals Board rules of procedure
A proposed ordinance would create a five-member Code Appeals Board with staggered five-year terms handling construction and property maintenance appeals — a board that exists but has no appointed members. Dangerous-building emergencies still go straight to council.
Franklin Regional athletic facility upgrades
Turfing the softball and multipurpose fields, resurfacing tennis courts, and adding lights (set back 500-600 feet from School Road) plus a concession/restroom building. Tabled pending review comments.
Haymaker Park ball field turf upgrade
Two projects to returf and improve fields at Haymaker Park and Franklin Regional Senior High School both cleared the commission and head to council with conservation approvals as conditions.