Authority to take land for project
WEST BROWNSVILLE – The Center West Joint Sewage Authority voted to condemn a piece of property for their new sewerage system and might have to take similar action next month. Dan Kendall, chairman of the authority, said that they were unable to find a title for the West Brownsville pump station property, located off of Main Street, almost under the Lane Bane Bridge.
“We can’t find a clear title or deed to that property,” said Kendall. “It is on an estate and we can’t find the rightful owner of the property.”
Solicitor Jack Purcell said that while the authority had considered changing the location of the pump station, PennDOT would not approve moving it.
“I think it would be prudent to condemn the property by resolution tonight,” said Purcell, explaining that the authority can obtain ownership of the property through condemnation.
Although authority members said they would rather have taken other actions, engineer Bob Bible said they should decide by determining the cost of each option.
“You have to look at the cost and decide whether it would be worth it to move the pump station or condemn the property,” said Bible.
Because Bible and Purcell advised that the engineering costs of moving the pump station would be greater than the costs of condemnation, the authority adopted a resolution condemning the property.
Purcell said that because Joseph Ricco, who owns the property on which the authority plans to build a sewage treatment plant, has not yet made any agreement with the authority, they may have to seek condemnation for that property as well.
Purcell said he was still in communication with Ricco to see if he would agree to accept the amount of the appraised value for payment. Although Ricco had said he wanted to get his own appraiser before making a decision, Purcell said he had heard nothing further about an agreement as of Thursday.
“If he hasn’t made a decision by next month, I may have to bring a resolution similar to the one you just adopted to condemn that property,” said Purcell.
“We need to get these properties resolved that we need for the plant and the pump stations.”
In other matters, Bible reported to the authority that the engineers are still in the design phase of the project, making changes to the original plans after the public has had the opportunity to voice their concerns and make suggestions.