February 2026

Welcome to the Feb. 2026 installment of MS4 Monthly Messages!

Each month, Monroeville’s Stormwater Management team shares tips and tricks to keep our community and environment happy, healthy and safe.

Everywhere you look, cars are completely covered with salt and grime. Your car is probably included.

We still may be in the midst of winter weather, but many might be looking to clean and service their cars after recent snowstorms left them needing a tune-up.

Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or take your car to the shop, maintenance can have a considerable impact on our environment and stormwater infrastructure.

Home Maintenance Best Practices

If you choose to service your car at home, activities like changing oil or replacing parts can pose a significant risk if done improperly.

Spills or incorrect disposal of fluids can cause dangerous chemicals to leak onto the ground or paved surfaces. These fluids then make their way into nearby storm drains, eventually reaching local waterways.

There are ways to reduce the impact of servicing your car at home:

• Use a drip tray to catch excess fluids or debris before they reach the ground.
• Avoid spills of automotive fluids as much as possible.
  • If a spill does happen, clean it up promptly using a dry rag. Never use water to clean up a spill.
• If you need to wash auto parts, never use a household sink or drain. Water treatment plants are not designed to handle these types of pollutants.
• NEVER dump dangerous fluids onto the ground or into a storm drain.

Choosing the Right Repair Shop

Car repair shops are hot spots for stormwater contaminants.

They often service and store wrecked or leaking cars, which pose a major risk to our stormwater management.

If you plan to take your car to a shop:

• Ask the mechanic how the shop disposes of used oil and other dangerous contaminants.
• Make sure used batteries are being recycled properly.
• Reduce waste by ensuring the proper diagnosis is being made.

Washing Your Car

Washing vehicles can also cause pollutants to enter storm drains.

Nutrient-rich detergents, along with grease and grime, pose a risk to our plants and wildlife.

It’s always best practice to wash vehicles in the grass, so the wastewater is absorbed into the ground. The soil acts as a natural filter for the contaminants.

Washing vehicles on paved surfaces like driveways or parking lots causes the wastewater to flow directly into storm drains, eventually traveling to lakes, rivers and streams.

Commercial carwashes are the most environmentally friendly option, because they are often required to recycle or treat their own wastewater.

January 2026

To kick off the new year, we’re talking about the word nobody wants to hear: snow!

Removing snow from your driveway and sidewalks promptly and properly is essential to keeping not only yourself and neighbors safe, but also our environment and stormwater management infrastructure.

When snow melts, the water carries contaminants like sand, salt and grime into storm drains. These toxic substances eventually find their way into lakes, rivers and streams, potentially harming the people and wildlife who rely on those waterways.

When To Start Shoveling

• Start shoveling (or using a snowblower) as early as possible. Waiting too long could cause ice to build up.
• When you pile up the snow, make piles on grass or other porous surfaces that allow the snowmelt to enter the ground.
  • Piling snow on pavement could cause ponding and runoff, creating icy conditions and allowing contaminants to enter the stormwater system.
• Pile snow closer to your house and work your way toward the road. This allows for the maximum amount of storage for the shoveled snow.

When clearing snow on your property, it is important to NEVER pile snow on or near a storm drain.

Planning For Snowplows

Municipal snow removal crews work tirelessly to keep the roads in our community clear and safe. These plow trucks, however, can sometimes complicate your snow removal efforts on your property.

It is always best practice to accommodate for plows as you work to shovel snow off your driveway or sidewalks.

• On the side of your driveway nearest to oncoming traffic, clear an area near the road.
  • This allows the plow to unload snow before it reaches the driveway.
• As you shovel snow, pile it on the opposite side of the driveway.
  • This allows the plow to resume normal operation, without depositing snow on your shoveled driveway.

NEVER shovel snow onto the road or near a storm drain.

You can find past MS4 Monthly Messages from 2025 in our archive.

The Municipality of Monroeville is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason C. Safar, Sr., to the position of Commander in the Monroeville Police Department, effective January 5, 2026.

Commander Safar brings more than 27 years of law enforcement experience, including over two decades of dedicated service to the Monroeville community.

Before his promotion, he served as Administrative Lieutenant, where he provided leadership in department operations, personnel management, accreditation, and administrative oversight.

During his career with the Monroeville Police Department, Commander Safar has led and supported key initiatives focused on professional standards and accountability, including significant involvement in the Department’s successful accreditation, supervision of patrol and administrative personnel, and coordination with municipal leadership and community partners.

A U.S. Army Desert Storm veteran, Commander Safar has earned numerous commendations and holds advanced law enforcement certifications and executive-level training credentials.

The Municipality congratulates Commander Safar on his well-deserved promotion and looks forward to his continued leadership and service to the residents of Monroeville.

A busy intersection here in Monroeville is about to get an upgrade.

State Representative Brandon Markosek announced more than $498,000 in grant funding to modernize the intersection of Monroeville Boulevard, Oxford Drive and Jamison Lane.

The grant funding will be provided through PennDot’s ‘Green Light-Go’ program, which helps to improve the efficiency and safety of traffic lights around the state.

Markosek says the money will be used to upgrade traffic signal equipment in the intersection to enhance traffic flow and increase safety for pedestrians and drivers.

PennDot officials say the upgrades to the intersection must be completed by 2028.

State Senator Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny) and State Representative Brandon Markosek (D-Allegheny) announced $896,430 in Local Share Account (LSA) grant funding to support major capital improvements at the Monroeville Convention Center, ensuring the facility remains open and economically viable for years to come.

“The Monroeville Convention Center is a major regional asset and an important economic engine,” Senator Pisciottano said. “These investments ensure the facility can continue operating safely and competitively, while supporting local businesses, hotels, and restaurants that benefit from the visitors it brings into the region.”

The funding, administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA), includes two awards:

• $606,600 to Monroeville Convention Center for the installation of a rubber roofing system
• $289,830 to Monroeville Convention Center for a parking lot paving project

Together, these investments address critical infrastructure needs at the 100,000-square-foot facility, which hosts large-scale events that attract visitors from across the region and beyond, generating significant economic activity for Monroeville and surrounding communities.

Representative Markosek emphasized the importance of maintaining the center’s infrastructure to preserve its role in the regional economy.

“These improvements are essential to keeping the Monroeville Convention Center safe, open and competitive for the long term,” Representative Markosek said. “By addressing critical needs like roof and parking lot repairs, we’re protecting jobs, supporting local businesses, and making sure the center can continue serving the community and attracting visitors.”

The convention center’s aging roof will be replaced with a fully adhered EPDM rubber roofing system, installed over the existing roof, along with repairs to the high roof areas. This upgrade will enhance safety, extend the life of the building, and protect the facility from future damage.

In addition, the parking lot paving project will address safety concerns. The existing lot has become uneven and deteriorated, with cracks and potholes throughout. The project will mill and repave the surface and install new curbing, significantly improving accessibility and safety for visitors, vendors, and staff.

“The Convention Center is an important public facility for Monroeville, and these projects address longstanding maintenance needs that can’t be put off,” said Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock. “Replacing the roof and improving the parking lot are essential investments in safety and reliability that ensure the building remains functional, accessible, and ready to serve the community.”

“The Monroeville Convention Center is a cornerstone of our local and regional economy,” said Monroeville Councilman and Mayor-elect Dennis Biondo. “These awards ensure the center can continue attracting major events, supporting local businesses, and bringing visitors into Monroeville who spend money at our hotels, restaurants, and shops. These improvements protect an asset that plays a critical role in the economic vitality of the entire region.”

Senator Pisciottano and Representative Markosek also acknowledged Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa for his support of the project and his role in advancing the funding.

The LSA program provides funding for projects that serve the public interest, including major facility improvements. LSA funding is designed to deliver long-term community and economic benefit, with projects required to be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or nonprofit organization.

More about funding through the Local Share Account program is available here.

The Office of Allegheny County Treasurer Erica Rocchi Brusselars will be conducting mobile office events in Monroeville over the next several months.

According to the Treasurer's Office, the goal of the events is to expand access to services for county residents, without the need to travel to Downtown Pittsburgh.

Some of the services offered include real estate tax information, dog licensing, hunting/fishing licensing and senior tax applications. A full list of services can be found on the office's website.

All office visits will be located in Monroeville Municipal Building Council Chambers from 10am to 2pm.

Schedule:

Friday, Feb. 20, 2026

Friday, March 20, 2026

The Municipality of Monroeville is excited to announce that we are expanding our reach on social media!

The Monroeville Communications team is working to provide daily content to keep you informed, safe and entertained.

You can find the Municipality on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

The Monroeville Police Department is now a fully accredited law enforcement agency.

Police Chief Doug Cole officially accepted the accreditation from the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association during the Aug. 12 Regular Council Meeting.

The Municipality is now one of 17 police departments in Allegheny County, and just one of 192 in the state to receive the accreditation. 

Accreditation is a lengthy and intensive process. The Association examines the department's policies and practices, and compares them to their list of 370 best practices and standards.

Accreditors conduct thorough site reviews, ride-alongs and staff interviews to determine whether standards are being met. Two proofs of compliance are required to achieve accreditation.

"Our program is not just about having a good policy manual on the shelf," Jim Adams, the Association's Accreditation Program Manager, said during the Council meeting. "A good policy manual sitting on the shelf doesn't do anyone any good if people aren't following policy."

The decision to approve accreditation for Monroeville was unanimous.

"The Police Department is a very well trained, well organized, well disciplined and effective police department," Adams said. "Their philosophies and practices show their continuing commitment to their community."

Chief Cole said the Department began the process to become accredited over a decade ago.

"We've really been trying to get this done for... the past 15 years," Cole said. "So we're glad we were able to get it done."

The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association will now conduct a review of the Department every three years in order to renew its accreditation.

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