Sanitary board urges homeowners to sign easements papers
VANDERBILT – Members of the Yough Sanitary Authority board of directors agreed Monday to allow solicitor Richard Husband to begin condemnation proceedings against homeowners and businesses living or operating within the boundaries of the authority that have not signed their easement papers. According to engineer Marie Hartman, over 50 people in the Vanderbilt and Dawson boroughs and Dunbar Township have failed to sign the papers that would allow the $7.4 million project to move forward.
Hartman said Dawson Borough has 34 total easements while Vanderbilt Borough and Dunbar Township has 93 total easements.
Hartman additionally said if residents sign the easement papers in her office by Friday no further action would be taken.
“The resolution the board passed tonight gives us the right to continue with condemnation proceedings against anyone who hasn’t signed the easement paperwork,” said Hartman. “However, all we want is for those people to take care of this. Even if people can’t come to the office this week they can call us at 724-626-1909 and make arrangements to sign the paperwork next week.”
Hartman and Husband said they are not trying to make life “difficult” for residents but the deadline for the paperwork is approaching and if they wait much longer it will set the project starting date back.
“We hope to bid the project out sometime this spring but we need those easements signed before we can get started,” said Hartman.
Hartman said a second letter was sent to property owners on Feb. 16 reminding them that procurement of easements was in progress.
Under other authority business Hartman said a Highway Occupancy Permit for Contract “A” was received from PennDOT on Feb. 28. She also said that the Highway Occupancy Permit application for Contract “B” was withdrawn for revision and resubmission.
The board agreed to void a check in the amount of $1,581.60 for the withdrawn permit application and reissue a check in the amount of $1,581.60 for the new application permit.
Hartman also told board members that a railroad permit applications for three bored railroad crossings in Dawson have been prepared and need to be executed. The board agreed and in support of the permit applications agreed to send three checks to CSX Railroad in the amount of $750 each.
Hartman also announced that some redesign work had to be completed by her firm, Widmer Engineering Inc., of Connellsville, concerning wastewater collection facilities to avoid the CSX right-of-way.
The extra work will cost not more than $5,000, according to Hartman.
Hartman also passed out Sewer System Rules and Regulations to board members to review and comment prior to adoption at the April meetings. Hartman said they were standard agreement forms and lateral connection details.