Rostraver Township announces emergency COVID-19 plans

For the MVI
Rostraver Township officials are announcing emergency plans and operation modifications.
Police Chief Greg Resetar said the changes in operations are designed to protect both officers and the public from unnecessary exposure and the potential spreading of the COVID-19 Virus.
• Officers will promptly respond to emergency calls where imminent threat to personal safety and/or property is present. New response procedures will not impact high-priority emergency incidents. A high-priority call for service is any situation where a potentially serious crime is in progress and not necessarily only when life is in danger.
• Non-emergency calls may be conducted by telephone instead of in-person contact. In-person investigations will depend on the public threat level associated with the incident.
• Investigations requiring in-person communication will be conducted outside in the open environment; therefore, complainants should be prepared to step outside.
• Walk-in complaints at the police department are discouraged. The front doors at the township administration offices are locked; therefore, restricting access to the police department lobby. To assist with inquiries, the police secretary or police officer can be contacted during business hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 724-929-8811.
• Fingerprinting services, including orders mandated by court, are suspended until further notice.
• State reportable crash reports completed by Rostraver police will be provided to insurance companies through U.S. mail upon request and receipt of required fees. In the interest of public safety, in-person requests are temporarily suspended.
• Driver issued warnings for equipment violations, etc., should call 724-929-8811 to speak with the issuing officer or leave a voicemail to ascertain how the warning should be handled.
These changes to services will remain in place until further notice.
Commission Chairman John Lorenzo said that on March 13, they enacted Phase I of the township’s emergency contingency plan, which includes the following:
• Canceled all affiliated Rostraver youth sports, and the use of township facilities, parks, and recreation.
• Township fish frys and establishments be take out only.
• Postponement of all township fire hall bingos.
• The suspension of township public meetings and work sessions.
“We have contingency plans in place for our office/administration staff, and we will be able to operate and function on all levels of local government and municipal obligations,” Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo said they enacted a declaration of disaster to get necessary supplies related to the emergency, rent needed equipment, and submit FEMA and PEMA for reimbursement of expenditures.
“We shut down the municipal building to the public. Staff will still be working from home remotely answering calls and doing normal duties. The taxes and garbage bills will be mail in only for now. The sewage authority is also closed to the public and will be mail in only as well,” he said.
Lorenzo said road department and crews will be called out for emergencies only but twice a day, employees will tour the township checking up on roads, infrastructure, etc.
He said all measures are effective immediately until April 4 when they will re-evaluate the situation again.