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Board members say $4.2 million too costly to extend service

By Joyce Koballa 2 min read

BULLSKIN TWP. – Despite the lack of a quorum, two members of the Bullskin Township/Connellsville Township Joint Sewerage Authority learned the timeframe and costs involved with extending sewerage from the Route 119 interceptor to Shenandoah Road is not feasible at this time. Pat Stefano, authority chairman and Dan Casini found the $4,183,495 price tag too costly to pursue and would discuss the matter with the remaining panel next month.

Glenn Wolfe, engineer for Widmer Engineering, said while the Rural Utility Service (RUS) indicated the authority could apply for funding, the earliest the money would become available would be in 2007 if it was approved.

“That’s the best indication that we could have hoped for with RUS right now,” said Wolfe.

Wolfe said the authority could also apply for additional funding through the PennWorks Grant and Loan program, but would have to meet certain criteria, including the number of jobs that would be created from the project.

Even after breaking down the project into eight various sub-areas that included construction costs and the number of households, Wolfe said the figures exceeded the authority’s current sewage rate structure.

The prices ranged from $76 per month in the best-case scenario to $57 per month, which Wolfe said was still well above the current rate schedule of $38.30 per month.

Wolfe noted the project’s biggest obstacle was the 14,000 feet of pipe needed to complete it, benefiting only five people in one area and as high as 25 in another, miles apart.

“There’s a substantial amount of pipe we’re talking about if we do everything,” said Wolfe.

Stefano said the price was quite hefty, but would not stop the authority from exploring other options.

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