Feb 23, 2005 By Joyce Koballa 3 min read

DUNBAR TWP. – The potential for economic growth coupled with an increased demand for water along the State Route 119 corridor stemming from Cavert Wire to the construction of the Wal-Mart Supercenter has the North Fayette County Municipal Authority looking to the state to help fund the proposed installation of a storage tank located at Works Hill. Bob Softcheck, authority manager, said the project is estimated to cost $1,250,000 and would provide additional public water capacity to other commercial and industrial areas located within the corridor, including the Uniontown Industrial Development Park, Laurel Mall, Connellsville Airport and Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.

Softcheck said the Industrial Park Booster Station currently services the area, which is not supported by a storage tank.

The bulk of the project’s costs include $550,000 for 16,000 feet of 8-inch pipe to be installed in State Routes, $427,000 for a 350,000-gallon storage facility and $175,000 for engineering and inspection.

However, authority members agreed the project would benefit from purchasing a 500,000-gallon tank for an additional $150,000 for capacity purposes. “It’s an area in my opinion that would grow as much or more as any other area in our system,” said Paul Kendi, authority secretary.

In order to help defray the cost, the authority agreed to apply for a grant through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s (DCED) Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure Program otherwise known as Penn Works.

Redding Bunting, authority member, suggested the panel also inquire about financial assistance through Fayette County officials and local legislators.

The program, administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, provides single or multi-year grants and loans to municipalities and municipal authorities as well as other corporations and enterprises for projects that construct, expand or improve water and wastewater infrastructure related to economic development.

The criteria and application for such projects falls under a referendum placed on last year’s primary election ballot.

Softcheck said although the project isn’t solely based on economic development, it’s still tied in with it for existing and future water projects.

If Penn Works awards the grant, Softcheck said it would require a 25 percent match of $312,000 with a $937,500 grant for the 350,000-gallon tank.

Softcheck added the match would most likely result in the authority borrowing that amount through a commercial bank loan for 15 years at 4 percent interest that would cost roughly $28,000 per year.

Without a storage tank, Softcheck said high volume demand places in the area are at risk for power outages and mechanical failure.

By supplementing the water flows during that period, Softcheck said the tank would also provide public water as well as fire protection.

In addition, Softcheck said a connection from the high-pressure area with a regulator station would enable the authority to provide public water to places in Juniata, Bitner, Little Summit, Monarch, Leisenring, Oglevee Lane and Ridge Boulevard when there is a need for maintenance at the filtration plant that could affect the authority’s ability to produce filtered water.

The authority also adopted a budget for 2005-06 that includes 44 capital addition projects, 23 of them completed last year.

The budget figures remain unchanged from last month’s adoption of a preliminary budget comprised of $5,119,500 in revenue and $3,432,000 in expenses with a $1,687,00 surplus. Of that, $1,091,600 will be applied toward debt service with the remaining $595,400 toward the capital additions.