West Center mulls merger with Brownsville
WEST BROWNSVILLE – The Center West Joint Sewer Authority continues to seek ways of saving money for its upcoming project of building a new sewer system, and it is considering the possibility of merging with Brownsville in order to do that. The new system was expected to provide West Brownsville and Centerville with service, but the authority recently proposed merging with California. Engineers are currently studying the feasibility of having sewage from the new system treated at California’s plant as a way of saving money for all three boroughs.
Chairman Dan Kendall suggested Thursday that the authority should offer Brownsville a chance to treat their sewage as well, since it would not have to be pumped as far, and both boroughs could benefit from an agreement.
“Since we contacted California, I think we should also contact Brownsville about possibly taking our sewage to them,” said Kendall. “We want to bring sewage in as cheaply as we can to the borough. That’s my number one priority. I have a feeling we’re going to need all the help we can get, so we should acknowledge Browns-ville and give them the same courtesy we gave California.”
Board member Scott Campbell agreed that the authority should do anything they can to save money, and the board instructed their engineers to contact Brownsville with the idea of merging.
Board member Terry Seddon pointed out that he and other board members had discovered that another funding option might be for the authority to team up with PENNVEST, who would be able to offer the authority a 30-year loan at one percent interest, compared with Rural Utility Service’s 40-year loan.
In another matter, engineer Bob Bible said that the authority needs RUS approval for the project before going out to bid, and they should be able to get their final plans to RUS in January.
“We should be able to have everything ironed out and ready to go to RUS for final approval,” said Bible, adding that the authority could send the project out for bids as soon as they hear from RUS.