Bullskin Twp. residents question tap-in fees at meeting
BULLSKIN TWP. – Several commercial business owners from Bullskin and Connellsville townships raised a variety of questions Wednesday relating to the tap-in fees they were charged by the Bullskin Township/Connellsville Township Joint Sewerage Authority compared with those of similar properties. While the authority has not yet determined the number of EDU’s (equivalent dwelling units) for commercial customers affected by its $5.52 million sewerage project, Dick Widmer, vice president of Widmer Engineering, said it would consist of a flat rate each month.
That figure will be determined once construction is completed.
Barbara Ramsey, who owns Kentucky Fried Chicken in Connellsville Township, including a connecting office building and several properties, described the authority’s billing system as “unfair.”
They’re all separate properties with different addresses,” Ramsey added.
Ramsey also questioned why she received one bill opposed to similar neighboring businesses that were charged separately for more than one sewer tap.
Paul Truxel, another business owner, agreed with Ramsey said while he understood the reasoning behind the tap-in fees for commercial users, he didn’t readily agree with.
Widmer said he likes to refer to the term tap-in fee as “share of the system” instead since residential and commercial customers are both using it.
“When we designed the system and pump stations we geared it on how much water we project comes to that,” said Widmer.
According to Widmer, construction of the project is about 86 complete in Bullskin Township along the Route 119 corridor and about 30 percent complete in Connellsville Township.
Right now we’re doing very well. We’ve not encountered some of the typical things,” said Widmer.
One problem the authority has encountered; however, is finding a location for a small, secure office for the billing. Authority members John Dilworth and Fred Elcock said, the job would require one, part-time employee.
D&M Contracting of New Alexandria and Shallenberger Construction Inc. of Connellsville are each constructing sewage collection systems in Bullskin and Connellsville townships while D.T. Construction Inc. of Dunbar will complete the project by installing three pump stations.
Widmer added that to date, $1,969,749 in construction has been completed with D&M and Shallenberger receiving an overall total $1,773,341. D&M will also complete paving this week followed by replacing concrete and reseeding part of Route 119.
In conjunction with construction that has been completed so far, the authority approved three requisitions for $409,719 which cover administration costs, legal fees and interest as well as construction costs for the project.
The requisitions consist of a $181,712 draw down from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), $197,400 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and $30,607 for the authority’s line of credit account.
Because the authority has not had to touch its contingency fund yet, Widmer said any remaining money from the project could be used to expand the sewerage lines in areas that were bypassed in the initial phase of the project.
In order to take advantage of the expansion, Widmer said the authority is required to contact the EPA in writing regarding the use of any remaining funds.
Following the meeting, Widmer and the authority agreed to sit down and further discuss the tap-in fees with the business owners who attended.