Dan Onorato

SUMMIT TWP — Dan Onorato, Allegheny County executive, made his way to Butler County on Tuesday to speak about regionalism.

Onorato met many of Butler County's movers and shakers at a mid-morning meeting at the Community Health Clinic of Butler County on Kittanning Street.

Bruce Lazar, clinic executive director, while introducing Onorato, told the crowd that he promised, "those in the back won't heckle Mr. Onorato about the drink tax," which received a big laugh.

State Rep. Brian Ellis, R-11th, related most of Onorato's accomplishments before handing the microphone to the county executive, who said he was visiting the clinic to learn more about the program and to discuss problems both Allegheny and Butler counties face when it comes to delivering and paying for services.

He said he considers the move Westinghouse Electric is making from Monroeville to Cranberry Township to be a success because the company chose to remain in the region instead of moving to another state.

"Now there are 500 houses that are to be built in Pine Township, which I'm sure is the result of the Westinghouse move,"Onorato said. "I think we will see more and more of that, with projects that extend across the (county) border, so that there really won't be a border at all."

Efforts to increase economic development throughout the region, he added, are especially important as time goes on, citing work being conducted by the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission and other development groups.

Onorato discussed some of the problems Allegheny County faces, such as paying for employee health care, the need to merge the county and the city of Pittsburgh into one government entity and how the much-hated drink tax was the only taxing option that survived county politics.

He said he is looking forward to the $10 million to $17 million expected revenue for Pittsburgh and the county once the North Shore casino is up and running, as well as the need for health care insurance competition to help deflate the price of coverage.

Before hitting the road back to Allegheny County, Onorato helped to honor Jean Purvis, who worked with a committee of Butler County volunteers to open the Community Health Clinic earlier this year.

"This is a great facility and you've done a great job," he said.