LUZERNE TWP. - The Luzerne Township Sewage Authority Monday decided to put a force main project at the treatment plant on hold for now.

Don Reho of Widmer Engineering told the authority Monday that bid specifications for the project are ready, but putting the project out for bids at this time would mean that the parking lot and grassy areas around the plant would be torn up until the spring if the project is done now.

In addition, the state Department of General Services is currently looking at three sites in Luzerne Township as the possible location of a new state prison. One site is adjacent to the current prison in LaBelle and also would be serviced by the sewage treatment plant in Maxwell.

"Your plant would look very different. It would have to," Reho said.

Reho said the plant would need to be expanded to almost double its current capacity to handle another prison.

"We have all the essentials that would be needed to expand to accommodate it," said Joe Terravecchia, vice chairman of the authority.

In other matters, plant operator Jim Vance said the odor control system at the plant appears to be working, since the facility hasn't received any complaints recently.

Vance proposed a change for the exhaust fan system for the headworks building at the plant. Vance said the large fan runs 24 hours a day, which isn't a problem in the summer, but creates expensive heating bills in the winter. The board directed Vance to look into a control system for the fan that would have it automatically go on any time the door to the building is opened as well as having the fan on a timer system to vent the sewer gases periodically.

The authority has been looking for ways to save money. Office manager Michele Plutch noted that the most recent water bill was just over $72, compared to past bills that were in excess of $800. The authority is now using wastewater to clear equipment instead of purchasing fresh water for the tasks.

"We're still trying to find ways to save money. We're not done with that yet," said Pat Ballon, chairman of the authority.

Terravecchia said a summary of the money saved this year through changes made in plant operations should be available at the December meeting.