Dec 4, 2003 By Joyce Koballa 3 min read

BULLSKIN TWP. – The Bullskin Township/Connellsville Township Joint Sewerage Authority is faring well with tap-in fee collections as it heads into the new year with a $5.52 million sewerage system. The authority Wednesday learned from Carl Lewis, executive director, that the amount of delinquent bills actually came in lower than anticipated with about 37 of the project’s 576 customers who still haven’t paid the $1,200 tap-in fee.

Lewis added that 14 of those customers stem from the initial part of the project completed by D&M Contracting of New Alexandria, which installed a sewage collection system in Bullskin Township along the Route 119 corridor and part of Pennsville.

Lewis said the other 23 customers with delinquent bills were those affected by the project’s second phase in which a sewage collection system was installed near Poplar Grove in Connellsville Township.

Both contractors completed the overall project in August while D.T. Construction Inc. of Dunbar wrapped it up with the installation of three pump stations, two of them in Connellsville Township.

In a separate part of the project involving an extension along Johnson Lane and Connellsville Street in Connellsville Township, Lewis said 13 customers are still delinquent.

The project was funded with a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency secured in 1999 and a $350,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) coupled with local money.

The authority received further funding last year when it was awarded another $1 million grant from PENNVEST to help offset construction costs.

In conjunction with the project’s completion, Dick Widmer, vice president of Widmer Engineering, said officials from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency was on site two weeks ago to conduct its final inspection. However, a report is not expected for some time.

“It was critical that that inspection took place because it’s one of the criteria,” Widmer said.

Until several final requirements are met, however, Widmer said PENNVEST is continuing to hold about $115,000 worth of retainer fees.

“We will continue to do all we can in order to meet those requirements,” Widmer said.

In addition, the EPA is also holding in retainer fees until the authority releases a final payment to Shallenberger Construction and D.T. Construction.

“They’re holding 10 percent of what they gave us,” Widmer said.

In order for the EPA to release the funding, Widmer suggested the authority withdraw $24,625 from its project account to pay both contractors. Although there is still payment due on the first contract, Widmer said, all of the payments attributed to the EPA funding will have been made.