Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Murrysville public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
Storm damage straining Public Works
The stormwater fee council passed last December still hasn't been billed — it's on hold after a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision. No bill this year; the program will come back for a fresh decision soon.
2027 Tax Ordinance (No. 1115-26)
A settlement resolves the Erie Insurance assessment appeal on Murry Ridge Lane; a council member criticized the county's outdated assessment base as a recurring revenue problem.
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.
Crime victim right of access policy (Act 134 of 2022)
A new administrative policy would spell out how the municipality handles requests from crime victims to access records under state law.
Meijer gas station and convenience store at 791 Manor Road
Meijer is moving forward with a roughly 159,000-square-foot supercenter plus gas station at the NW corner of William Penn Highway and Manor Road. The conditional use for the fuel center was recommended to Council, but traffic signals, lighting, and site design still get vetted in land development review.
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.
Heritage Trail Police Patrols
Overtime on extra Heritage Trail patrols drove up this year's police costs after an incident on the trail; staff said future patrols will mostly be scheduled into regular shifts when staffing allows.
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.
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.
2026 and 2027 Operating Budget process
Murrysville Medic One had a financially down month due to fuel costs, partly offset by NFL Draft service revenue. If fuel prices stay high through 2026, the budget deficit will be significant.
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.
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.
Stormwater Fee Deferral and MS4 Compliance
A new Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision says stormwater fees are actually a tax, throwing Murrysville's recently adopted stormwater fee into question. Staff expects to pause billing until legal clarification, and council tabled the credit manual.
Board and Commission openings for 2027
Seats are open on the Environmental Advisory Committee, Personnel Board, Code Board of Appeals, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Library Board. Interested residents can contact the municipality.
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.
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.
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.
Five-year capital plan adopted
Council set the annual public hearing on the five-year capital plan for August 18 at 7 p.m., with a workshop right after — that's where big spending priorities for roads, parks, and facilities get hashed out.
Beverly Manor personal care home proposal
A developer wants to build a five-story, 123-unit personal care home for seniors on 21.2 acres off Pennsylvania Street in an R-3 zone. Neighbors worry about the narrow road, school bus stops, emergency access, stormwater runoff, privacy and property values. The commission tabled the project until outstanding studies and comments are resolved.
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.
Speeding and traffic safety on residential streets
The road serving the site is roughly 16.5 feet of pavement in a 50-foot right-of-way, too narrow for two vehicles to pass comfortably, and it hosts a busy school bus stop. Residents fear added facility traffic endangers children who walk to the bus stop.
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.
Cardboard compactor discontinued
The 13-year-old compactor at the Municipal Building is offline due to breakdowns and commercial misuse; residents can recycle cardboard curbside instead.
Medic One EMS funding sustainability
Murrysville Medic One is pushing its subscription drive and may ask Council to revisit the $5-per-resident fee that hasn't changed in five to six years, as costs rise.
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.
Redwood development in White Valley
A Cleveland developer wants to build 168 single-story rental units on 62 acres off Wilson Road, which requires excavating slopes over 40%. Neighbors on Wheatland Circle worry about ground stability and the loss of their wooded rear views. The hearing was continued so the new geotechnical report can be reviewed.
Data center and solar zoning ordinance (No. 1111-26)
A draft ordinance would define and regulate data centers, solar energy facilities, forestry and beehives in Murrysville's code. Residents are worried about data center water consumption and land use; the commission is still refining setbacks, screening and stormwater rules.
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.
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.
Route 22 traffic signal upgrades
Murrysville won a PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund grant to replace the system that syncs all the traffic lights along Route 22, including Old William Penn and Vincent Hall. Expect smoother commutes, but the project takes about two years from engineering through installation.
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.
Kelsey Building Addition (SP-4-26)
A small storage/garage addition next to the Signs of Excellence building on Old William Penn Highway. It needed commission review because it exceeds the 217-square-foot threshold allowed by a simple building permit.
Coast & Main Patio Addition (SP-5-26)
The Coast & Main restaurant wants a covered outdoor dining patio, adding seasonal seating on William Penn Highway. Commissioners confirmed parking can handle it but warned that patios here often become enclosed rooms.
Sanitation services contract renewal
Republic has skipped Monday and Tuesday routes for weeks, leaving cans overflowing across neighborhoods while the municipality is bidding out its next sanitation contract. Council reviewed the contract's $250-per-day missed-pickup penalty and wants the hauler to issue automatic credits to affected residents.
Sale of aging public works fleet
The first of two planned auctions brought in strong money — notably $62,300 for a 2014 F-550 bought for $89,000. One hitch: the winning bidder on the old K9 vehicle hasn't been reachable, so the municipality may keep it a while.
Chick-fil-A parking shortfall
Commissioners noted a Chick-fil-A site plan provides around 60 parking spaces where the ordinance requires about 93, questioning how drive-through-heavy designs pencil out.
Redwood steep-slope excavation on Wilson Road
A 62.8-acre R-3 project requires excavating slopes over 25%. Neighbors worried about losing the tree buffer along Wilson Road, filling a ravine, and construction risks over old underground mines. The applicant promised supplemental evergreen screening and says geotech drilling shows the mines are safe.
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.
Sportsmens Club zoning settlement
A years-long dispute between the Sportsmen's Club, neighbors, and the municipality is being settled.
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.
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.
Road surface treatment project
Council awarded the annual road paving contract to Derry Construction, capped at $1.5 million from the capital budget.
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.
Act 22 police recording request policy
A new policy spells out how to request body-cam, dash-cam, and other police footage, with a formal review process and possible redaction.
Concert in the Park fireworks
The summer Concert in the Park shifts from Saturday to Friday (likely August 7) since the new fireworks crew is flexible any day. Staff hope Friday draws bigger crowds and avoids weekend youth sports conflicts — and it can revert to Saturday if it doesn't work.
Route 22 and School Road traffic signal failures
The traffic signal at Route 22 and School Road keeps failing, causing long waits up and down the corridor because it controls nearby signals too. A grant-funded replacement system is still a year or two away.
Liquor license transfer for Coast & Main restaurant
A public hearing was held on moving liquor license R-16586 to 4420 William Penn Highway for the Coast & Main Seafood & Chophouse, relocating from Monroeville. A resolution vote is expected June 16.
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.