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Councilman Randy Schmidt asked Thursday if the city could be compensated for escorting the increasing amount of large loads being brought through. Acting police Chief Mike DiLullo said he has spoken to Sandy Township police Chief Don Routch and Manager Dick Castonguay. They attempted to pursue information about compensation for wide load escorts, but nothing ever came of it.
Mayor and acting city Manager John "Herm" Suplizio said he and Castonguay are still pursuing it.
DiLullo added Ridgway Borough police were trying to charge $100 per escort, but he was unsure what came of it.
Councilwoman Diane Bernardo said while you want commerce to come through the area, the police escorts are a service this company is tapping into while the taxpayers foot the bill.
"The only problem I have with it is if you do it for them (charge for an escort), you're opening up a can of worms because every piece of equipment or oversize that comes through - if you do it for one you're going to have to do it for the other," DiLullo said. "One way or another you're going to have to be consistent if you do it or don't do it."
There are only so many loads which are permitted to come through DuBois and other smaller municipalities; the rest will go on major interstates.
"They (the loads) call Sandy Township first because they come off the interstate (80) and onto (Route) 255. Sandy Township picks them up out there and then brings them in. Then, we pick them up up on DuBois Avenue and we bring them through town by turning on the (Liberty) boulevard," DiLullo said. "We usually assist out to the Blinker (Parkway) light. Then we break off when we get them that far and there's not that much traffic."
