He explained that companies have been calling him asking for developable sites ranging from 2 to 10 acres. You can pick one up on ebay fairly cheap(and they run themselves). Over time, all of them got to know Mayor Lou, his personality and management style. ), Giles argued that the stakes here were bigger than a demolition debt. Obviously, our city leaders have never had to live paycheck to paycheck (at least since they landed this job), or they would learn how to trim the fat, LOWER taxes (Keeping them at the current rate is not good enough), and start some REAL projects that impact a larger section of the population. That Duquesne-based environmental engineering firm was hired by the authority as part of a federal Environmental Protection Agency grant of $500,000 toward the clean-up of the asbestos-laden site. City of McKeesport employees attributed a compensation and benefits rating of 4.0/5 stars to their company. The students that are learning at our world class universities in nearby Oakland take what theyve learned here and start new industries and expand the US economy (some place else). With luck, the mayor said, someone 50 years from now might remember the bike trail, Renziehausen Park or other city landmarks as part of their "good old days." Giles said he called the editor to clear up any misunderstanding regarding the Shaw Avenue propertys demolition, and that when the mayor found out he nixed the meeting. A service of Tube City Community Media Inc., a non-profit based in McKeesport, Pa. Also, the city wiped away tax liens worth nearly $10,000. Water is seeping through the roof and damaging masonry, which is bowing in places. Salaries above this are outliers. The salary difference may cause by many reasons, such as the cost of living. Once we are able to educate them on drug and alcohol addiction, and how it affects not only them, it affects the community, it affects the whole neighborhood, they can make a change in their lives, where they want to be productive.. I congratulate the Council on its balanced budget. Cherepko had a lot to trumpet at the Oct. 6 meeting of McKeesport City Council. "That's an area I was born and raised in," Cherepko said. And Ive met a lot of guys [in prison] who had regret, and theyre like, Listen, this aint you. His workout buddies, he said, urged him to aim higher. The process comes as Cherepko gears up for potentially hundreds of building demolitions under his McKeesport Rising initiative, but also as some in the city seek to preserve hints of its glory days as home to mills and 55,000 residents. Here are the top five states that pay the highest City Mayor salary in the United States. Whenever the mayor or council suggest anything, the message boards lite up with how stupid they are.silvblk12 - December 11, 2009, Yes, its definitely true everywhere. "Absolutely -- for a home, commercial business, whatever," Cherepko said.Unlike the mayor, a woman who owns one of the few recently built homes in McKeesport said she didn't get a dime's worth of help from the city. It would be inappropriate not to share an insight into Lous heart. Mayor Q has led Kansas City in launching an innovative Zero Fair Transit imitative, making all public transit fare free in Kansas City, and serves as Vice Chair for Transit on the United States Conference of Mayors Transportation Committee. "Absolutely -- for a home, commercial business, whatever," Cherepko said. No content yet, but real professional looking.John M. - December 08, 2009, Yes, the website looks like it just arrived from 2002. McKeesport collects 1.2 percent earned-income tax and property taxes of 4.26 mills on buildings and 16.5 mills on land. Glassdoor has salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, and hourly pay based upon employee reports and estimates. Mikell said his only option was to hire a lawyer to fight the city, but he didnt think he could afford one. Salaries above this are outliers. var second = 'il'; After they moved back to his hometown Lou and Jean were always a team he sold insurance, operated a pizza shop in Grandview, worked for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of McKeesport (a harbinger of things to come), owned a sporting goods store, and became a coach of the McKeesport Little Tigers football program. This employer has not claimed their Employer Profile and is missing out on connecting with our community. The south wing of the building cant be saved. Now, North Huntingdon pays their police chief 40 percent more than McKeesport. If it can restore a 96-year-old landmark, McKeesport will send a powerful signal to skeptics, the citys mayor said at a public hearing on the fate of the long-abandoned Penn McKee Hotel. He joined the team in 2020, serving as a reporter focused on housing and economic development and an assistant editor. At that same time and in that same area, Mayor Michael Cherepko was looking to build a home. Jun 2015, Dec 01 - Dec 31, 2014 Thats the seventh-highest among some 140 ZIP codes in the county. Nip it! Management took the running of the city seriously, and worked with the police in trying to make it a safe place. Aug 01 - Aug 31, 2014 The authority previously had a daily treatment capacity of 21 million gallons at its plant in the Tenth Ward. McKeesport had previously been paying between $12,500 and $15,000, and Mayor Cherepko decided on a starting price of $8,000 per house. Matthew Craig, executive director of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh, stands in front of the . document.write('" title="Email Jason Togyer">'); Two others house the men they serve, and the fourth includes a gym. (Tube City Almanac illustration). He never found the funding. However, the different job titles may have different salaries. The city's focus should be on encouraging small business development, he said, ranging from "someone working out of their home" to a company such as Huckenstein Mechanical Services, which moved into McKeesport in 2005, bringing 125 jobs. That house was owned by Josephine Lawson. The average salary of a City Mayor is $98,597 in Mckeesport, PA. What is Pay-for-Performance Compensation? As things got worse, the boss, as I was privileged to call him, partnered with the newly created Allegheny Regional Asset District. While this was a good choice for the city, it made Lou no friends and cost him political capital in the region. My co-workers were a body of officers who were dedicated to keeping the city safe, protecting one another, and returning back home to their families at the end of their shift. document.write(address); Brewster chalked that accomplishment up to "the help of the Lord" and "good business management" by city employees. I would not have bought the property with all the liens. Eventually, developers will be able to assemble parcels of land and build tracts of decent, attractive, and hopefully affordable housing. I had my stint of just being caught up in nonsense, said Mikell. When McKeesport council voted last month to allow Mayor Michael Cherepko to tap into a reserve fund to make payroll and pay bills, he said he believed the budget deficit could reach $2 million at the end of the year. Hopefully we can start talking again together, he said, because we both want the same things for the community.. He became rich, however, through his experiences and friendships with many days when he did not have a nickel in his pocket. Elections, big turnout, almost 25% vote. Pittman served as a community development consultant to McKeesport Mayor Lou Washowich from 1985 to 1989, and as the city's community development director from 1989 to 2000. Understanding the Gender Pay Gap in America, View Average Salary for the United States. His starker message: The men housed by First Step might otherwise be homeless. On this late October day, the residents were all en route to the convention in Erie. He estimated the cost at $2.5 million or more. First Step was the first program that he approached with a sincere desire to get well. He had planned to renovate it into transitional housing that graduates of First Step could live in while receiving social services that would lead to independence. He admires San Franciscos Delancey Street Foundation, a self-help community and job training facility for ex-convicts with substance use histories. One idea might be to have a liaison from the City that would have contact with students at our local universities, where some of the greatest minds are now being trained. Dennis K.E. Graduating in Pennsylvania is about to get more complicated. First Steps request for funding, though, has run smack into one of the citys highest priorities: the demolition of derelict buildings to make way for new development. Employers: This data could be used as reference point in your market pricing, but not the only source, due to differences across jobs locations, and sizes of companies.Consider additional sources like our Employer reported data. What businesses are we trying to attract here, honestly? Read more: In McKeesport, a demolition drive pauses at the door of a once-glamorous hotel. With funding from RAD, Mayor Lou was able to support the operations of Renziehausen Park by establishing it as a regional destination point for a range of recreational pursuits including trails, sports (both youth and adult), pavilions for picnics, and the restoration of Lake Emilie as a fishing lake all of this in a city that was broke! If you ever played the Daily Number (I didnt) you know how funny that is, and when the young lady running the lottery machine said you cant do that, everyone got a good laugh but not at my expense. Everything changed when Lou defeated five opponents in the Democratic primary in 1979, and then upset incumbent Mayor Thomas J. Fullard. How do you do that? Anselmo said a portion of one floor has collapsed. (Photo by Ryan Loew/PublicSource), In years past, hed gone to recovery homes to avoid winter on the street or meet terms of probation. Public works projects like removing blighted houses are small steps towards making the City more livable. For 13 minutes, he and Cherepko debated an argument they had two weeks earlier, outside of city hall. The city's biggest source of revenue --- accounting for $3.9 million --- is earned-income taxes, while property tax income amounts to a little more than $2.4 million. Now that land is mostly vacant and has been used twice by businesses not on the up and up. For him, necessity was always the mother of invention. Released in 2013, Mikell later took a job at First Step. Murphy Co.s lunch counter for coffee. How much does a City Mayor make in Mckeesport, PA? The RIDC industrial site (former National Tube mill site) is laid out nicely for 7 or 8 small businesses with lots of room to expand. And remember, the city previously paid $12,000 in grant money to demolish the buildings. But, please for the love of God, dont raise my taxes. She could have kept her property, but only if she paid off the delinquent taxes. My life has been a wreck, he said, eyes damp. Its a formula Giles and his team have been honing for 30 years, even as epidemics of substance abuse and overdose course through the city around it. After becoming the high school quarterback his senior year, he parlayed that experience into a cup of coffee at several colleges, none of which took him to the NFL, but which did get him to trade in his helmet for a different kind of uniform. Last month, McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko hosted a delegation from three federal agencies (Department of Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture) advising on funding possibilities to speed the redevelopment process along. Thats a good thing a very good thing, he continued. The average salary for a City Mayor is $89,227, Individually reported data submitted by users of our website. In the end, all McKeesporters poor and rich, young and old, male and female, all races and religions mattered to him. I am not going to take our tax money, he continued, to fulfill the obligations that you failed to meet.. MOST READ PUBLICSOURCE STORIES It sits near the Great Allegheny Passage trail, the McKeesport Palisades event center and the McKees Point Marina, making the site a potential cornerstone of the citys recovery bid. In fact, the owner said she paid to have the old house demolished.People at a McKeesport shopping complex who spoke with Action News Investigates were unaware of the city program and skeptical of the mayor's motives. Im not sure it can be spelled out any more plainly than that, though perhaps Ill climb up the Peoples Building and replace that waste of money Welcome To McKeesport sign with something worthwhile.John - December 08, 2009, I used the word marketing, so dont blame the mayor for that. Contents Tube City Community Media Inc. No content may be reproduced in whole or part in any digital or print publication without express permission, except that short excerpts may be used with attribution in commentary or for critical purposes. Those who worked with Mayor Lou will never forget him. The new mayor received an increase in pay -- from $4,000 a year for serving as a council member to a $70,000 annual salary -- but Mr. McLaughlin promptly cut his pay to $60,000 because $60,000. One was to leave the Allegheny County Community Development Program and receive federal grant monies directly from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Feb 2017 I have been talking to people at Sheetz for 3 years now trying to get one in or around the city, they think Rt30 is as close as they want to get. It had cost him jobs, landed him in legal trouble and filled him with shame: He skipped his mothers funeral to get high, he told the group. They occurred in prison. In 2001, First Step bought a house on Shaw Avenue for $7,000. Have you ever asked the mayor or city council about appointing you to one of the development boards, where maybe you could work on something like that? First Step charges employed residents 30% of their earnings for room and board, capped at $300. Businesses dont want to go into towns where theres a bunch of infighting. All rights reserved. Rich Lord February 15, 2022. Also, the McKeesport sign was donated by McKeesport Hospital (its their old sign) and didnt cost anyone anything, as far as I know. Graduating in Pennsylvania is about to get more complicated. Does North Huntingdon have 40 percent more crime? He said he couldnt distribute public dollars to organizations that werent in good standing., Giles didnt dispute the debt. Nevertheless, it did not make his maiden voyage as the mayor easy. She could have kept her property, but only if she paid off the delinquent taxes.The mayor hopes to move into his new home in the next month. It was then that McKeesport needed the support of financial institutions and business leaders just as these entities needed to sustain a working relationship with the local government. Some First Step residents have decades of substance use, criminal histories and mental health diagnoses, Giles said a few days later. Topping the list is Washington, with Maryland and New York close behind in second and third. var domain = 'gmail.com'; Youll have to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Lum if you want it removed; its their building now.Webmaster - December 08, 2009, I think SOMEONE should talk to Mr and Mrs Lum, becuase they are screwing up bigtime. One of the collective solutions was to collaborate on the task of identifying outside funding sources without the need to raise taxes. You dont get to come into a council meeting, embarrass me, and ask for help, the mayor told them. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. . City of McKeesport Salaries How much do City of McKeesport employees make? We've identified six states where the typical salary for a Mayor job is above the national average. Dec 2016 var first = 'ma'; "Oh, God. New York beats the national average by 4.0%, and Washington furthers that trend with another $6,345 (7.9%) above the $80,064. If you believe you have been sent to this page by accident, you can delete your TribLIVE.com cookies and proceed to the site. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. You are seeing this page to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 ("CCPA") and other California privacy laws. Whole Foods would be good. Im trying to provide a service, Giles told the mayor and council, and I just need some assistance.. Its an incredible opportunity to help some of those in need, he told council. Mar 2016 All content Tube City Community Media Inc., a non-profit corporation chartered for charitable and educational purposes in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, unless otherwise noted. He joined the team in 2020, serving as a reporter focused on housing and economic development and an assistant editor. Now, can we be like McClatchy and trade for some good prospects?Adam - December 08, 2009, This whole marketing thing is what worries me. "The Festival of Trees is a true community event," Mayor Mike Cherepko said. Thats when Lou made three of his most important decisions. But its a bad thing if we dont have property. Glassdoor provides our best prediction for total pay in today's job market, along with other types of pay like cash bonuses, stock bonuses, profit sharing, sales commissions, and tips. investigative reporter Paul Van Osdol asked. Two abandoned houses on East Street in McKeesport were torched. Next years goal: demolition of 200 to 300 abandoned homes. Nov 01 - Nov 30, 2014 His First Step family is facing a crisis. Are schools ready?At Pitt, CMU, We're workers when they want us to be, but then we're graduate students when they don't want to pay usUPreps resets: A school meant to bring Pitts resources to Hill students goes back to the drawing board. Lebanon. The four-story hotel was a glamorous gathering spot during McKeesports industrial heyday and even hosted a 1947 debate between future presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, both then members of Congress. The 2022 Festival of Trees featured 64 entries from community groups, service agencies, churches, and student organizations across the McKeesport area - welcoming guests to the Jacob Woll (Main) Pavilion in Renziehausen Park on December 1 through 5. Now he has an annual budget that hovers below $500,000 a year, anchored by an Allegheny County Department of Human Services allocation that is $312,000 in fiscal 2021-22. I think the White Oak Chrysler corner would be an awesome spot. Administrative Based on 1 salaries Assistant 1 salary View More Military & Protective Services Based on 1 salaries Police Detective 1 salary View More Operations Do you feel more informed? If its just too overwhelming, too dangerous, I understand.. California and District of Columbia take the second and third place with $101,225 per Year and $100,799 per Year in the list. impacted so many lives in his 81 years that I am confident each and every one of those individuals Lou met could relate their own special remembrance. "That's a $22,000 savings for you as the home builder, right?" Feb 2016 Get a damn Whole Foods already. He was not the darling of the business communitys movers and shakers, which included Bob Cox of Coxs Department Stores, Ron Angerman of R & J Furniture, Lester Herrup of Golden Rule, the Mansfield family, which owned The Daily News, and the senior management and board of directors of the hospital. He spent it at a Narcotics Anonymous convention in Erie. Unless it is council who concerned, which makes sense since they only get $4000/yr. Though Giles has seen prior expansion plans bulldozed, he still hopes to grow First Step. http://www.township.north-huntingdon.pa.us/Consolidated%20Budget.xls All this money and they are worried about a measely $48,000 for the Palisades which is one of the only well maintained busy places in McKeesport. Aww gee, the Penn McKee. And it has such a huge amount of information.oops.Obviously it carries the same message that those in power have been saying about McKeesport for years.Coming Soon. It was here where his skill sets with people and decision-making were honed, and the team went onto such successes that the program was recognized not only in Western Pennsylvania but throughout the country. Pay ranges for the same job title may differ based on the location and the responsibilities, skills, experience, and other requirements for a specific job. It was then that Lou Washowich became a true leader. "Businesses are going to come and go, just like people come and go," Brewster said. McKeesport Rising is the mayors three-year-old demolish-then-rebuild plan. It didnt matter than most of the people using the facility could or did vote for him. If you're unsure of how to do this, click here for a quick guide. Mayor's Office. "Oh, God. Mayor Michael Cherepko estimated that 99% of the people that know anything about McKeesport can relate to the Penn McKee. For that reason, the fate of the old hotel, empty for 30 years, will resonate well beyond the borders of the city of 17,727. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. On this November morning, he was back at First Step Recovery Homes in McKeesport, where he spent most of the prior two months. Necessity again became the mother of invention. Stop use of Tube City Online if condition persists or worsens. Regardless, they were his people and as McKeesporters, he felt responsible for them and would not forget them. Honey, I was in the house about 60 years," Lawson said. Both cities have median incomes above $44,000 for thier citizens. The city had several schools, as well as Two housing complexes that also had to be patrolled. We were family. (Photo by Lucas Zheng/PublicSource), In McKeesport, a demolition drive pauses at the door of a once-glamorous hotel. The Allegheny County Health Department found 347 housing code violations across two troubled McKeesport properties over four years but only collected one penalty, for $2,250. The latter was not a problem, because Lous ability to judge people which he developed back when he coached the Little Tigers helped him find, trust and obtain the folks he needed to initiate and implement his goals and objectives. If you decided it could work, and that was what you were going to do, you could do it, Craig told the authority board. The cost of doing nothing except roof repair, and then allowing the building to sit, would also be around $1 million, though that would not advance economic revitalization or remove public safety hazards, he noted. You need to work hard for success, not have success at the expense of others.Adam - December 08, 2009, True, but again to play devils advocate if you want someone to work for you, you have to pay what the market demands. The mayor hopes to move into his new home in the next month. The only name Ive heard in the past few years is Wal-Mart, and thats a horrible idea on all fronts. So, not only do our kids get the shaft now, theyll get it later as well. The table shows below the name of the job title below you may be interested in including salary range and total compensation. Reducing salaries would be a penny wise and a pound foolish. And remember, the city previously paid $12,000 in grant money to demolish the buildings. Sep 01 - Sep 30, 2014 City Of Mckeesport pays an average salary of $780,849 and salaries range from a low of $676,965 to a high of $899,293. This story was made possible with financial support through the American Press Institute. Only three new homes, including the mayor's, were built in the past decade. "Well, yeah. Even in business. McKeesport mayor sees big savings on new house after tax liens wiped out, Program is 'absolutely' available for anyone else in city, Michael Cherepko says. Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications. Action News Investigates has learned that the mayor of McKeesport got the property for his house on the cheap, using a city program.Mayor Michael Cherepko says he was given no special favors, but the mayor is the first and only person in McKeesport who has used this program to build a house.WATCH: Paul Van Osdol's investigationThe story of the mayor's home starts with a fire in May 2012. Lous character was forged early in life, growing up poor in a tough industrial town without benefit of a standard nuclear family. How much do City of McKeesport employees make? This house on Fifth Avenue in McKeesport, once owned by Keenon Mikell, is now deeded to the McKeesport City Redevelopment Authority. Despite the clashes at council, Giles held out hope for detente with the mayor. The average salary is $72,004 a year $53,660 - $80,034 11% of jobs $82,308 is the 75th percentile. Cherepko said McKeesports biggest problem is the perception of decline created by negative TV news coverage. Of course, the History section is done, since that is all anyone can focus on around here.Adam - December 08, 2009, John, next time I need to call 911, I will just call Sarah and ask her to connect me to to Sherriff Taylor, unless he is at Floyds getting a shaveAdam - December 08, 2009, All right, simmer down, or Barney will have to nip this in the bud. Recent grants of $15,000 from The Pittsburgh Foundation and $9,999 from the Allegheny County Health Department would help in the short term, he said. Remove the south wing, though, and the north wing wont be stable. Nip it!John M. - December 09, 2009, Please can someone guide me to the citys light switch so I can turn it off and we ( all the decent citizens still left) can all finally leaveCox's Jimmy - December 09, 2009, I get this feeling that if we all got free chocolate ice cream and $2,000 tax rebate checks, half of us would bitch because we wanted vanilla, and others would complain about the lines at the bank.Webmaster - December 09, 2009, So true. On top of the recession, the mayor said, the city has continued to serve one of Allegheny County's poorest and oldest populations, yet has avoided state-controlled Act 47 "distressed" status. Mayor Michael Cherepko says he was given no special favors, but the mayor is the first and only person in McKeesport who has used this program to build a house. Seven other First Step residents sat at a table in the wood-paneled clinical office, with its space heater, popcorn maker and an old bank vault door. Are schools ready? "I thought they could at least have given me a dollar, or the mayor could have come and thanked me because he grew up there. Rich is the managing editor of PublicSource. Published weekdays (usually), except holidays (and when we have something better to do) at McKeesport, Pa., by Tube City Community Media Inc., P.O. My relapses are a pattern, he said. Just to feed his residents, he relies on generosity from restaurants and charity. But no one wants to come here. The building, however, deteriorated. After an adult life fueled by cocaine and then almost ended in an opioid overdose, he was still fired up from an entirely different kind of weekend, which he called the most fun in my life.. I cant imagine we still have switchboards. I know the kid," Lawson said. The employment base of U.S. Steels National Works and the tax base that went with it all but disappeared in his first term. "Could anyone get the city to get rid of all these tax liens, knock down three buildings, to build a home?" Action News Investigates has learned that the mayor of McKeesport got the property for his house on the cheap, using a city program.Mayor Michael Cherepko says he was given no special favors, but . The story of the mayor's home starts with a fire in May 2012. Do not back up, as severe tire damage may result. After the fire, the city spent $12,000 to tear down the two homes that were burned and another abandoned home next door. Pittman is a retired community development consultant who worked as McKeesport city administrator from 2004 to 2012. "I signed it over to McKeesport. Until recently, he was also the owner of a building on McKeesports Fifth Avenue. Phone: 412-675-5020. Brewster said he would have more to say in his second "state of the city" address, to be delivered to the public in February.
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