New sewage authority to operate in Bute Run area
DUNBAR TWP. – The township supervisors Thursday agreed by resolution to allow a new sewage authority to be formed in the Juniata/Bitner/Little Summit area. Richard Widmer, vice president of Widmer Engineering Inc. of Connellsville, said the new Bute Run Sanitary Authority would take in portions of Dunbar and Franklin townships.
“This will not have anything to do with the Dunbar Borough/Township or the Dunbar Township sewage authorities,” said Widmer. “It will be a completely separate entity.”
Widmer said that there can be more than one sewer or water authority in a township because the decision to form an authority has to do with the topography of the land.
“We have so many different topographic areas that sometimes it is necessary to form more than one authority,” said Widmer. “The new authority will be a small authority just for the Bute Run area. The new authority will accommodate about 300 homes.”
Widmer said Bitner is in Franklin Township while Juniata is split between Dunbar and Franklin townships and Little Summit is in Dunbar Township.
Dunbar Township solicitor Don McCue said as soon as all of the legal issues have been addressed in forming the new sewage authority the board of five members will begin holding regular public meetings.
Dunbar supervisor Ron Keller said three members of the board have already been named from Franklin Township.
The Dunbar Township supervisors Thursday named Ivan Hoover of Juniata and Albert Hardy of Little Summit to the board of directors to represent Dunbar Township.
Keller said the supervisors received five names for the two posts but decided to give the position to people who were from those areas. Hoover was appointed to a four-year term while Hardy was appointed to a two-year term.
McCue said the three Franklin Township representatives were named to five-, three- and one-year terms on the board.
The supervisors additionally passed a tap-in ordinance that complies with Pennsylvania state law. The ordinance also allows the authority to enforce the law through a code or sewage enforcement officer.
McCue said public comment will be taken on the new sewage authority prior to the next regular Dunbar Township meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. at the township building.
In other unrelated matters, Keller said the township has received a $20,000 grant from State Sen. Richard A. Kasunic, D-Dunbar. According to Widmer, the money will be used to stabilize the bank along Dickerson Run Creek.
Widmer said another project that he expects to see bid out soon is on DeWitt Avenue.
“We are looking to pick up some storm water runoff that’s been a problem,” said Widmer. “The project is being administered through the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority, who handles the township’s Community Development Block Grant money.”
Widmer said the design for the $50,000 to $60,000 project is completed and he expects the redevelopment authority to put the project out for bid sometime late this month. He additionally said that he hopes to start construction sometime this spring.
Widmer said the Hutosky Road water line project, also being administered by the redevelopment authority, is already out for bid. He said that project, off 80-Acres Road, is also expected to start in the spring.
The cost of that project is estimated at $40,000 to $50,000.