Oct 11, 2006 By Jackie Beranek 3 min read

UPPER TYRONE TWP. – Supervisors Tuesday moved a step closer to bringing sewage to township residents. However, the final decision on which option will best suit residents will not be made until the regular Nov. 14 meeting.

Supervisor Chuck Cook said there are at least 12 options to choose from. He also said that all of the options would cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

“We really don’t have a choice as the whether we will come up with a plan,” said Cook. “DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) has ordered us to move forward with a plan to bring sewage to the township.”

The supervisor agreed to discuss the matter at a work session on Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m. Supervisor Chairman Sam Killinger said a decision on which option to choose will be made at that time and voted on at the regular Nov. 14 meeting.

Cook said if the cost of building their own collection and conveyance system is about the same as going in with the Scottdale/Everson facility in East Huntingdon Township they may be better off doing it on their own.

“The best solution would be to join the Westmoreland Fayette Municipal Sewage Authority, owned and operated by Scottdale and Everson boroughs,” he said. “However, they don’t want to give us a seat or a say on the board of directors,” said Cook. “Either option is going to cost us millions of dollars. So we have to come up with a plan that’s in the best interest of our residents.”

Cook said whatever choice the supervisors make has to be approved by DEP. He also said that he feels sure that the supervisor’s choice will not be the option that DEP wants.

Alternative 1 that the supervisors will look at includes the expansion of WFMSA to serve Keifertown/Kingview, Owensdale and South Everson at a projected cost of $3.3 million.

Alternative 2 includes construction of a new collection and conveyance system in the township to serve the same areas at a cost of $3.3 million.

Alternative 3 includes expansion of WFMSA to serve Owensdale and South Everson with a package plant in the township to serve the Keifertown/Kingview area at a cost of $3.8 million.

Alternative 4 includes expansion of WFMSA to serve Keifertown/Kingview, Owensdale, South Everson and McClure at a cost of $4.3 million.

Alternative 5 includes construction of a new plant in the township to serve Keifertown/Kingview, Owensdale, South Everson and McClure at a cost of $5.3 million.

Alternative 6 includes expansion of WFMSA to serve Owensdale and South Everson with a package plant to serve Keifertown/Kingview and McClure at a cost of 4.8 million.

Alternative 7 includes expansion of WFMSA to serve Keifertown/Kingview, Owensdale, South Everson, McClure and additional homes in South Everson at a cost of $6.1 million.

Alternative 8 includes construction of a new plant in the township to serve Keifertown/Kingview, Owensdale, South Everson, McClure and additional homes in South Everson at a projected cost of $7 million.

Alternative 9 includes expansion of WFMSA to serve Owensdale, South Everson and additional homes in South Everson with a package plant to serve Keifertown/Kingview and McClure at a projected cost of $6.6 million.

There are three other plans that range in cost from $5.1 million to $6.4 million.

In other matters, the supervisors set trick or treat for Oct. 29 from 2 to 4 p.m.