Sewage project behind schedule
REDSTONE TWP. – While contractors continue to make progress building the Colonial Joint Sewage Authority’s new sewage system, Marie Hartman of Widmer Engineering said Monday that construction is a little behind schedule. Hartman suggested that the authority request a six-month extension from PENNVEST, which would allow the system to be completely operational by Feb. 1, 2006, instead of Aug. 1, as they had originally expected.
“If you get the extension, you have a chance to collect all of your fees before you start paying for the loan,” said Hartman.
The board agreed that they would ask for an extension.
In other matters, the authority has decided to extend the new sewer lines to an area of Grindstone Road that does not have sewerage. They amended their management agreement with Widmer Engineering to include the extension of the lines to that area. Don Reho of Widmer Engineering said that the extension has already been approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Reho also told the authority that the contractors working on the project had nearly completed all work except restoration, which they would not be able to do until spring.
Authority members announced that connection notices will be mailed out on March 1, and customers who did not pay their tap-in fee before Feb. 1 will owe $950.
Dwayne Thomas, the authority’s operations manager and chairman of the Redstone Sewer Authority, told the board that a customer had attempted to make payments on the tap-in fee. The Redstone authority is handling the tap-in fees for Colonial, which includes portions of Redstone and Jefferson townships.
Colonial Joint Sewage Authority Chairman Ralph Rice emphasized to the public that the authority is not accepting payments, and customers must pay the connection fee in full when they send their payments.
“You are required to pay all of the $950,” said Rice. “We are not taking payments.”
The board also granted Thomas permission to open a general account at Parkvale Bank, where they will be able to deposit funds from sources other than the tap-in fees.