May 4, 2004 By Jenny Susa 3 min read

REDSTONE TWP. – The Colonial Joint Sewage Authority announced that its project of a new sewage system officially began on Monday. Rob Kuchar of Sucevic Piccolomini and Kuchar Engineering said that the contractor doing the sewage treatment plant had started work, and said the construction of the sewage lines is expected to begin Monday.

Solicitor Jack Purcell reported that the authority’s PENNVEST loan had closed, and the final right of way documents were signed on Monday. “I was very happy to get the loan closed,” said Purcell, commenting on the lengthy process.

He said he is working on finalizing condemnations that the authority needs to complete for the project.

With the project underway, local residents have questions about what some of the rules will be once the system is operating.

Local resident Bob Zias asked the board about a house next to him, where the owners only occupy the home twice a year.

“They are home twice a year and arrive Sunday and leave Monday,” explained Zias. “After paying their connection fee, will they have to pay a monthly bill since they are not going to be there?”

Chairman Ralph Rice said that while they would not have to pay the full monthly rate, they would have to pay three fourths of it.

Dick Widmer of Widmer Engineering explained that the reason that residents not regularly occupying their homes have to pay is to make it fair for all customers using the system.

“The monthly fee is also for debt service repayment,” said Widmer. “The monthly payment is their portion of the debt service, just like everyone lese has to pay. We give them the reduction for sewage treatment because that’s fair. But everyone still ahs the system available and it would not be fair to waive the entire monthly fee because than we would have to raise prices for everyone else.”

In other matters, the terms of many authority members will soon come to and end, and Rice said that they expect to appoint a new board. With that knowledge, local resident Jack Murray said that some residents were beginning to wonder when the board would do that.

“To get this project moving smoothly we all have chosen not to appoint anyone new yet,” said Rice. “We ant this to be a smooth transition.”

Murray suggested that the board should decide who they are going to appoint because it would give them experience dealing with the current project.

“The only problem with that is that putting new guys on a multi-million dollar project who don’t have experience, the job would be difficult for them,” explained Widmer.

Rice said the board could not make any decisions about choosing a new authority at this time, but would consider Murray’s suggestions.

In another matter, Rice said that 12 people had paid the early tap in fee so far, giving them a $100 discount off the regular fee of $950.

“We do have some money in our account from the early payments,” said Rice. “People can pay at any time.” He added that some people have been anxious to pay early to receive the discount.

Payments can be sent to Colonial Joint Sewage Authority, Tapping Fee Account, 1002 Main St. PO Box 753 Republic, Pa. 15475.

The final day for an early payment is Jan 30, 2005. After that date, residents will pay the full $950 fee.