Latest news with #Kitner
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Recuse Or Represent? Kitner's Ties Test Voter Trust In Dallas City Council D11 Runoff
As the Dallas City Council District 11 runoff election peaks, voters are scrutinizing the candidates' backgrounds and potential conflicts of interest. Bill Roth, a commercial realtor, positions himself as a dedicated advocate for taxpayers for Texans, while his opponent, Jeff Kitner, faces a bigger set of questions regarding his dual roles and affiliations around the DFW area, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Many of those conflicts of interest are now raising local eyebrows. Kitner serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, a prominent lobbying organization representing a collection of 'business' interests, including developers and corporate contractors. If elected, Kitner has indicated plans to continue part-time employment with the Chamber, according to previous reports, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest if he wins the election. Dallas City Code Chapter 12A mandates that officials disclose and recuse themselves from matters where conflicts exist, potentially limiting Kitner's participation in key council decisions affecting District 11 – The very district he wants to represent. Some critics could argue that Kitner's ongoing ties to the Chamber could compromise his ability to impartially represent citizens in his area, especially when council votes intersect with Chamber members' interests. Steve Nordseth, treasurer of the Save Pepper Square Neighborhood Association, previously told DX, 'It's like applying for a job to be a referee while staying on as a coach of one of the competing teams.' In contrast, Roth emphasizes his commitment to serving District 11 without outside connections that might block his council responsibilities or cause any recusals. He is also currently campaigning for transparent governance and prioritizing the needs of local residents over external business interests. Practically every important decision, from zoning and development to infrastructure projects and city contracts, affects the interests of Chamber members in Kitner's district. And each time Kitner would have to recuse himself from those discussions, District 11's voice would be absent, as Nordseth previously pointed out to DX. The runoff election is scheduled for June 7. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the debate over potential conflicts of interest remains a pivotal issue in the race. 'Serving as a Dallas City Councilmember can sometimes blur the lines between full-time and all the time,' said current councilmember Cara Mendelsohn in April. Blur the lines, indeed. As of the time of publication, Kitner's team has not responded to multiple requests for comment on his campaign or any conflict of interests connected to serving District 11.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority talks test site for washout prevention
EBENSBURG, Pa. – A section of hillside neighboring the Path of the Flood Trail may soon become a test site for a new bonding agent to avoid washouts, Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Executive Director Cliff Kitner told the board Friday. The authority had been approached by Greg Turjan, of OFB USA, regarding a binding agent the group is working on. Turjan declined to comment Monday, citing ongoing development of the product. Kitner was excited by the prospects of the binding agent and said the test site may be the Stineman section of the Path of the Flood Trail in the South Fork area. 'We all know we get washouts on that hill all the time,' he said. Kitner added most rail-trails are built parallel to streams, which is why the CCCRA paths were attractive to Turjan. The CCCRA-maintained trails have historically dealt with issues of washouts and costly repairs. The authority is still working through the building phase of a Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency project to fix damage from Hurricane Debby during summer 2024. Board member Steve Gironda raised concerns about the water diverted by the product having to go somewhere and potentially causing more issues. Kitner said that as long as the water will stay off the trails and go into the drainage ditches, it can be managed. Although details about Turjan's products were few, the group did state the agent is claimed to be environmentally friendly and would be tested in July or August on a roughly 100-foot section of the hill. Throughout the meeting, Kitner also provided several updates about regional projects, such as the work to repair sections of the Ghost Town Trail. He told the board that the authority had completed its requirements and now it's up to the federal officials to rubber-stamp the work. At this time, the repair plans are still considered to be in development. As for the final section of the pending Ghost Town Trail loop, which will be the only rail trail loop on the East Coast when finished, Kitner said contractors plan to start that project this week with a deadline of Nov. 30. The board awarded that work to Kukurin Contracting Inc. in April at a cost of nearly $3 million. That includes almost a mile of trail and construction of two pedestrian bridges over roadways. Other discussion during the meeting included the use of Cambria County Prison inmate work crews. Kurt Wolford, prison warden, and Assistant Deputy Warden of Finance and Facility Services Megan Bursky attended the gathering to offer the assistance of those at the jail for maintenance and other work on the trails. Thomas Kakabar, CCCRA board chairman, asked if the groups were geared more toward manual labor or skilled trades. Wolford said more manual labor at this time, but his goal with the program is to teach inmates a skill that can help them succeed once they are back in society. Typically, trades trainings take place at the state and federal corrections levels, and Wolford said he aims to mirror those offerings to help prisoners rehabilitate and become productive members of society. The board members were in favor of working with the prison in the future.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CCCRA awards contract for final piece of Ghost Town Trail loop
EBENSBURG, Pa. – The Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority awarded a more than $2 million contract Friday for the final section of the Ghost Town Trail C&I Extension loop. Kukurin Contracting Inc., of Export, had the low bid, pending review by necessary parties. The work will consist of building two bridges over roadways and construction of less than a mile of trail for a total of $2,732,732. 'We're at the point I can see the finish line,' CCCRA Executive Director Cliff Kitner said. 'I'm excited to finally get there.' Once it is complete later this year, the connecting piece will finish the only rail-trail loop on the East Coast and just the second in the country. 'It is the linchpin to completing the Ghost Town Trail loop,' CCCRA Board President Thomas Kakabar said of this trail section. In December, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Ghost Town Trail's North Street trailhead in Blacklick Township for completion of the first section of the final piece of the loop, which included trail-building and construction of a box culvert that the trail now runs through. Kitner said work for the last portion had six bidders and the amount came in slightly higher than expected. Despite that, the work will move forward and be paid for through grants the authority has received from the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In other business, the group discussed future installation of the Joseph Dushaw Rest Area in Ebensburg along the Ghost Town Trail. They approved a quote from Milkie's Lawn & Landscape not to exceed $2,034 for gravel and stone to help develop the site. Kitner said in discussing the project with Milkie's, there may be some changes to the final design, but the work is coming along. Alex Cruley, maintenance specialist, said he and fellow maintenance specialist Vincent Heiss will install benches in that area in the coming weeks.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cambria recreation authority hires maintenance specialist, transfers city lots to JRA
EBENSBURG, Pa. – Maintenance motions topped the agenda at Friday's meeting of the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority. The group approved the hire of a new maintenance specialist, Vincent Heiss, and transferred five properties along Somerset Street in Johnstown's Kernville section to the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority. CCCRA Executive Director Cliff Kitner said the actions will be a benefit to the organization, both in helping with workload and in alleviating property care stress. 'Obviously, with all the trail we're building, I want to eliminate some of our maintenance,' Kitner said. The five Kernville properties were donated to the authority years ago as part of the Urban Connectivity project that aims to connect pathways through the city. Kitner said there are some structures on the lots that still need to be removed, but it's unclear if that might happen. When Vision Together 2025 approached the authority about acquiring a lot to build a home there, it made sense to offer all five to the JRA so the properties could be put to use, Kitner said. He added that hauling the authority's equipment to work in that area can be difficult, as well. Board member Brad Clemenson suggested a right-of-way be recorded on the deeds during the transfers to allow for the potential development of a trail in the future. It has been proposed, as part of the connectivity project, that a trail follow Somerset Street along the river. 'Something to talk about,' Clemenson said. 'I don't think we have to resolve it right now.' Kitner told him that's a discussion that can be had with the parties involved. As for Heiss, Kitner said he'll be a 'tremendous asset' to the organization. Following the retirement of longtime maintenance specialist Bruce Eash in January, the authority was left solely with specialist Alex Cruley. Kitner said it made sense to have two specialists to help take care of the trails, due to the amount of county-owned and maintained trails doubling since Kitner's start more than 10 years ago. In other business, the board was updated on the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grant project for the Ghost Town Trail extension. Next week, bids will be put out for two bridges between the North Street trailhead in Blacklick Township and Nanty Glo, where the path will meet the Ghost Town Trail C&I Extension and complete the largest rail-trail loop on the East Coast once finished. Kitner said all the permits are in place and that loop will be completed this year, which is a relief. He compared the feeling to nearing the end of a marathon and getting a burst of energy out of excitement to finish. 'When you start something and you think it's going to be forever, but now you see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's like, 'Wow, we're going to cross that finish line,' ' he said.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnstown Redevelopment Authority awards contract to demolish former Sheesley Supply Co. structures
EBENSBURG, Pa. – Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority board member Jim McCann provided welcome news Friday to his colleagues about the former Sheesley Supply Co. property in the Hornerstown section of Johnstown. Johnstown Redevelopment Authority has awarded Earthmovers Unlimited Inc. the contract to demolish a blighted industrial structure near the Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail, as well as a quonset hut steel building on the site, he said. 'We'll definitely see an improvement down there,' McCann said. The JRA awarded Earthmovers the contract for the work at a cost of $217,630 at Tuesday's meeting. It's possible that crews will begin remediation in the next 10 days, McCann said. The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies announced in November that it had provided $404,000 for demolition and environmental remediation of the property on the 800 block of Horner Street. The Conservation and Recreation Authority, which owns the industrial site, has worked for years to remove the blight, and members were happy three months ago when the needed funding came through. Cliff Kitner, CCCRA executive director, described the assistance as a blessing and said the land will, for now, be turned into a green space. In a related matter, McCann told the board that the Johnstown Fire Department training site, which borders the trail in the Horner Street area, will soon receive a waterline from Pine Street to the former Dynacom property. He said the supply from the Cambria Somerset Authority will be located along the side of the trail, and contracts for the grant-funded work will be awarded next week. CCCRA members discussed preparation of an easement for the waterline at the January meeting, board Chairman Thomas Kakabar said. Regarding repair work on the Ghost Town Trail between Ebensburg and Twin Rocks, Kitner said the project has been built through cooperation of the Pennsylvania and Federal Emergency Management Agencies, and the next step is reviewing the work. When Hurricane Debby swept through the region in the summer, the storm destroyed several sections of the trail, especially in the Twin Rocks area. Initial estimates put the repair amount at about $400,000, but Kitner said Friday that the project is now projected to cost nearly $1 million. Any money the authority expenses for the work will be eligible for reimbursement through the state and federal agencies. 'We're just moving forward,' Kitner said.
