Mercer Township Newsletters

PennDOT is reminding motorists that Pennsylvania's Move Over Law takes effect on April 27, 2021.

This law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane further away from the response area to slow to at least 20 mph less than the posted speed limit. An emergency response area is where an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers.

Drivers must move over or slow down for all responders, including police, fire, and ambulance crews, as well as stopped tow trucks and maintenance vehicles.

Additionally, a similar regulation requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching a stationary trash or recycling truck.

Failure to move over or slow down will result in a citation that carries a fine of $500 for first time offenders, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 and a 90-day license suspension for a third or subsequent offense. Penalties are increased for incidents that seriously injure or kill another person. For more information on Pennsylvania's Move Over Law, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety. 

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh.

Subscribe to PennDOT news in in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana and Jefferson counties at www.penndot.gov/District10.

The Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect that has spread throughout Pennsylvania since its discovery in Berks County in 2014. SLF feeds on the plant sap of many different plants including grapevines, maples, black walnut, and other important plants in PA. If you see SLF, help us stop it in its tracks!  Be sure to sign-up for their newsletter to be kept up-to-date on the Spotted Lantern Fly.

As you are aware, the pandemic-related moratorium for nonpayment will end March 31, 2021, and FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania utilities will resume collection activities, including disconnections, on April 1, 2021.  FirstEnergy has been and remains committed to helping customers who are facing economic hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic, and continues to encourage customers who are having difficulty making ends meet to contact their utility to enroll in payment plans or apply for bill assistance programs.  We certainly appreciate what you and your agency are doing to assist the community during this difficult time, and we will make every effort to help support the application process. 

We have resources here to help you know how to deal with those hard to recycle items around your household or neighborhood.

Here is a link detailing how some residents may qualify for WIC (Women Infants and Children) benefits in Butler County. Please go to their website for more details. 

Don't forget to check out the Coronavirus page for many other community resources  to take advantage of during the pandemic. Many, many resources from  Butler County, PA state and federal levels are available if you need help! Check to see if you qualify.

Do you have township news that you would like to add here? Send an email to: mercertownship@zoominternet.net