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Bids for project expected

By Jenny Susa 3 min read

LUZERNE TWP. – The Luzerne Township Sewage Authority heard Monday that bids for their phase II sewerage project, covering areas of Penn Craft, Allison, Tower Hill, Thompson and Merrittstown, will be received on Aug. 23. Engineer Don Reho said that the bids would be advertised on July 20, allowing the authority to meet the 30-day requirement for advertising before receiving the bids. After the bids are delivered to the Luzerne Township Municipal building on Aug. 23, they will be publicly opened at 2 p.m.

Reho said the engineers would also hold a meeting for some of the bidders before they bid on the project.

“This will only be for bidders on the pump stations and the sewage treatment plant upgrade,” said Reho. “They will meet with us on Aug. 8 at 9:30 a.m. and take a tour of where we will be building. The sewer contractors are not included because there is nothing in their plans that is not in the specifications, and if they have questions, they will call.”

Reho also explained that the authority may be able to save some money on the project by offering combination bids.

“If the sewer contractors want to submit a bid on all three contracts, and they get all three, they might offer a reduced rate,” said Reho. “We’re offering the same thing for the pump stations and the plant. Some combination bids I’ve seen were not the lowest rates, but you never know. I’ve done jobs where some combination bids were considerably less.”

In other matters, sewage plant clerk Tony Capuzzi said that he sent out 33 letters to property owners who have not yet tapped into the sewerage system.

“We also still have about 15 vacant homes that are not tapped in, but we concentrated on the occupied houses,” said Capuzzi.

“The letters encourage them to get this done or face legal action.”

Capuzzi added that most of the property owners who were not tapped in had already paid their tap-in fees, but most were duplex owners who did not tap in because they could not reach an agreement with their neighbors.

Capuzzi also reported that since the authority’s fiscal year begins on Sept. 1, they should be concentrating on creating a budget.

“We need to have a budget to present in August,” said Capuzzi. “I think we should be able to present a balanced budget.”

In another matter, board member Bob Miller said a public meeting will be held on July 21 at 7 p.m. at the Nixon Gun Club regarding the phase III sewerage project. He said the project will cover areas of Bull Run Road, Telegraph Road and Swan Plan.

“This will be an open meeting where we can take suggestions from the people and answer some questions,” said Miller. “With the people we have on board now, I think this project is finally going to happen.”

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