Early prison opening would cost $382,000
It will cost the state Department of Corrections (DOC) an additional $382,000 to accelerate the construction of the sewage-treatment plant at Force Main for an early prison opening. The Luzerne Township Sewage Authority presented four options to the DOC in September after they asked the sewerage authority to provide temporary service for 100,000 gallons of sewage flow per day by April 1, 2003.
The four options included, three options for the installation of a temporary sewer system with expected costs, along with an option to accelerate the construction of the $6.6 million sewage collection and treatment plant that will serve the new state prison and the surrounding area. At that time, the authority did not have an estimate cost for the accelerated construction of the project.
This month, according to engineer Rob Kuchar, the authority provided the DOC with a cost figure for a four-month accelerated construction schedule for the sewage treatment plant at Force Main.
Kuchar said, Kranick Environmental Contractors (KEC) Inc. of McKeesport submitted an updated schedule that would have the sewage treatment plant operating by May 13, for $382,000 in addition to the $3.8 million awarded in the initial contract, which included an approximate September completion date.
To meet the May deadline, construction workers and suppliers will work double shifts, according to Kuchar.
Kuchar said the line contractors, John T. Subrik of Eighty Four and Shallenberger Construction Inc. of Connellsville are both expected to be completed by April, without acceleration to their construction schedule. The two companies were awarded contracts in the amount of $299,075 and $1.3 million respectively
Subrik is constructing the sewer collection system for the prison and Shallenberger is constructing the sewage collection system for LaBelle, Dutch Hill and Maxwell.
At present, the state prison, which was scheduled to house a limited number of prisoners by December or January, is using a temporary holding tank and sewage is transported to Redstone Township for treatment.
The DOC has requested early completion of the treatment plant or temporary service in order to house 700 to 800 prisoners and needed staff in the facility by April 2003. The prison is built to hold approximately 2,000 prisoners at capacity. Kuchar said the DOC could also decide to do nothing and wait until the sewerage system is complete in August or September, if they believe that to be the more cost-effective plan.
DOC spokesperson Lisa Aaron said she could confirm that the DOC plans to open the prison sometime between April and August 2003. She said interviews for various positions are ongoing.
In addition to the state prison, the sewer system will also serve about 170 homes in the area.
and LaBelle.
Tap-in fees and monthly fees are still tentative – $800 and $35 per month, respectively – but Kuchar said the authority is expected to set the tap-in fees at its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 2.