The city has a new interim manager. On Monday, City Council voted to accept the return of Interim Manager Joe Merrill to his regular position as chief of police, while also elevating Public Works Director Nate Kissell to the interim manager post. The switch reflects the city’s failure to attract a suitable permanent manager candidate […]
The Altoona Planning Commission uses its broad discretion to grant or withhold waivers of code requirements when considering applications for land development, so that it can help maintain a pleasing “urban fabric” in the city, while also allowing developers reasonable leeway, according to officials at a meeting Tuesday. The commission wants to enhance livability and […]
In its continuing effort to deal with blight, City Council Monday discussed potential ordinance adjustments that would give the codes department additional leverage with landlords and the owners of vacant buildings. Those possible revisions would require repeat offenders including those who live out of town to appear in person to deal with ongoing […]
As the family story goes, Dolly L. Hollen was born prematurely weighing in at about one and a half pounds, only to grow into a “tough” woman who served as a U.S. Army nurse in WWII before returning stateside to raise four children. Hollen, 101, died Jan. 29 after a brief illness. The Bellwood resident […]
City Council Monday came to a consensus on hiring an executive director for the Redevelopment Authority/Land Bank, a post that hasn’t existed for a couple of generations. Council reached that informal consensus after a presentation by consultant Winnie Branton on eminent domain and conservatorship, tools the RA/LB could use to help get problem properties rehabilitated […]