Ford City Borough wasted no time to install flags on the Veterans Bridge following criticism from callers on last Tuesday night’s cable show on Family-Life TV.
“I was wondering if you could tell me why the flags are not flying on the Ford City Veterans Bridge?” a caller questioned when phoning the “Talk of the Town” talk show on Family-Life TV and WTYM radio last Tuesday night.
It didn’t take long for Ford City Borough Council Vice-President Tyson Klukan to call the show and respond.
“I heard there was a situation where some people were questioning about the flags on the bridge. They were ordered late,” Klukan responded. “They’ll be being put up within the next week-and- a-half here. Usually the fire department puts it up. The Borough was looking to put them up, but I believe they’re trying to figure out which organization right now is going to put it up, but there was a delay in the flags. They still will be put up this year though.”
Klukan didn’t waste any time to gather his resources together. By this past weekend, the flags were flying on the Ford City Veterans Bridge.
Klukan said it was important to do things to make residents proud of their hometown.
“We talked at our council meeting. We need to see people bring pride back into their homes and back into the town. Ford City still is a good place to live, to work, to play. We’re not that far from Pittsburgh, a nice, major city in the United States. Armstrong County’s positioned well in the region here.”
Ford City has been taking major steps to create a positive environment.
“The council, administration working together with the ad hoc committees, and the planning commission, the full blown comprehensive plan is scheduled to be passed by Council on July 8 for a vote,” Klukan said.
He blamed old ordinances and outdated zoning as the reason that new development has not been accomplished in the Borough.
“I believe, in my opinion, it has held back a lot of riverfront development with old industrial zoning. So there’s definitely a night and day difference about to happen within the zoning. I actually am sitting on one of the committees with the new zoning coming forward, but again just taking those steps forward to modernize the times.”
TV host Jack Dunmire used Kittanning Riverfront Park as an example of progressive planning.
“Riverfront Park in Kittanning is utilized all the time,” Klukan observed. “Even as our consultants and the folks down here are working on the comprehensive plan for Ford City, we acknowledge the Allegheny River is one of our best assets in this County and that’s something that Kittanning has already tapped through the Murtha Amphitheater and the Park up there. Now I think it’s time for Ford City to be aggressive.”
Klukan said that he is looking forward to use of the old PPG Brown Field.
“Ford City Council is working with a local business in town. We are negotiating on that 42 acres. There’s actually been some interest in that. They were at a council meeting probably 8-10 months ago, but are still interested on that property. And obviously the property owners have energy where the former 228 property was and also Eljer properties. The Mantini family, the Cippel family - there’s a lot of energy there.”
Klukan praised his fellow council members for providing the leadership to attack the problems and find solutions for the future of Ford City.
BelleFlex has inquired about acquiring a parcel of land in the old PPG Brown Field owned by Ford City for expansion of their manufacturing plant.