More facade improvements coming to Monongahela

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Monongahela’s Main Street Program received the green light from council Wednesday to move forward with additional facade improvement projects.
At their public meeting last night, council members unanimously approved seven new properties for the project: 230 W. Main St., 173 W. Main St., 221 W. Main St., 410-418 W. Main St., 218 W. Main St., 211 W. Main St. and 163 W. Main St.
Work to be done on the properties includes painting, installing new doors and facade repairs.
Money for the program comes from a $65,000 grant awarded to the Main Street Program five years ago, which is to be used for the renovations of storefronts built before 1965.
The grant reimburses construction costs of more than $1,500, with the recipient getting one-third of the costs reimbursed, with the reimbursement not to exceed $5,000.
“They can’t throw away any historic characteristics of the building,” Main Street Program Executive Director Terry Necciai said of any renovations done to the buildings.
Necciai didn’t give a specific date when the new projects would start, but they could begin “at any time.”
In other business, council gave police Chief Kevin Harris approval to upgrade the camera system at City Hall, which includes upgrading cameras inside the police department’s jail cells.
The $5,629 quote for the project comes from Monessen-based Crystalline Technology, LLC.
Monongahela officials also announced Wednesday there’s an increased police presence at the city’s Mounds Park after a break-in at the park was reported nearly two weeks ago.
According to Councilman Rusty Polonoli, the park’s equipment room and concession stand were broken into, and the new dugouts had their doors pried open.
“If anyone sees anything, definitely call the police,” Polonoli said. “We need to get these guys caught.”
Harris said there are extra police patrols in the area.