May 28, 2003 By Joyce Koballa 2 min read

DUNBAR TWP. – Members of the North Fayette County Municipal Authority decided to forego a project involving the construction of a secondary raw-water intake at the Wheeler Bottom booster station along the Youghiogheny River because of mixed feelings on hiring an engineer. Bob Softcheck, authority manager, suggested the board scrap the project after members Larry Williams and Redding Bunting voiced their opposition to the matter.

“I hate seeing the board divided over it,” said Softcheck.

The authority received bids ranging from $12,500 to $40,600 from five engineering firms after receiving one proposal last month.

Williams said he was not in favor of hiring the low bidder because it was not the authority’s engineer.

“I feel we have a professional engineer, and they got the cut here,” said Williams.

Softcheck said the primary water intake was designed in 1992 by Fayette Engineering of Uniontown and cost about $2.5 million.

The initial project was financed partly through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

In a separate matter, the authority agreed to submit a letter of support to local legislators, at the request of Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, regarding Gov. Ed Rendell’s economic stimulus package proposal.

According to Mike Krajovic, Fay-Penn president, hundreds of local businesses are suffering from the inability to find qualified workers, and the governor’s proposal would address such a need by improving the public education system.

Krajovic added that Fay-Penn is working to secure funding for important revitalization initiatives in Fayette County and that the governor’s proposal would make such funding available.

Turning to other business, the authority once again discussed but took no action on accepting credit cards for bill payments.