Connellsville Municipal Authority expanding project
CONNELLSVILLE – An initial $2.2 million project that would enable the Connellsville Municipal Authority to comply with state and federal mandates will be expanded, according to action taken Tuesday by the officials. While the overall price tag will be more, board members and Widmer Engineering Inc. engineer John Tomaro agreed the move would further its ability to address state and federal environmental concerns tied to the city’s 14 combined sewer overflows (CSO).
“We want to make an impact,” said board member and treasurer Rodney Gunderson.
The CSO system collects and transfers excess water from broken pipes; leaking joints; leaky manholes; roof, driveway and stairwell drains and storm sewer inlets.
The overflows transfer the excess water to three waterways, including the Youghiogheny River, Opossum Run and Mounts Creek.
During heavy rainstorms, the municipal plant is unable to treat all the excess water and in some cases the overflow goes to the waterway without being treated.
The 14 CSOs are permitted, the flow monitored and reports submitted to the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
According to engineering reports, last year a total of 69.6 million gallons of combined wastewater was discharged through the CSOs.
Last month the authority agreed to initiate the first phase of the project to eliminate the CSOs and directed the engineering firm to determine the most critical areas.
The proposal submitted by Tomaro targets five areas, including Fairview Avenue; the Crawford Avenue and Pittsburgh Street intersection; 4th, 5th and 6th streets; 10th Street and Crawford Avenue intersection and Greenwood Heights.
Each would require the removal of the overflow, installation of catch basins to redirect the water and replacement of any roadway affected by the project. The authority has agreed to apply for a PENNVEST low-interest loan to finance the project.
After learning that a $2.2 million project would result in an $11,000 monthly payment, Gunderson suggested that because the authority is currently making $27,000 monthly payments on another PENNVEST loan, the board consider expanding the scope of the CSO project.
The prior loan was secured to finance the upgrade of the treatment plant. The 20-year loan will be completed in November of 2009.
Tomaro, meanwhile, said the process is lengthy.
After the board approves the project, engineers must have the design approved by the state DEP before the loan application can be submitted to PENNVEST.
According to the PENNVEST schedule, the next round of loan applications to be considered begins in February 2009.
The board directed Tomaro to revise the project and maintain overall costs at approximately $3.5 million. The figure would translate into a monthly payment of $17,000, said Gunderson.
Turning to other matters, the board also conducted the following business:
– Renewed a contract with MRM Trust for general liability insurance at an annual cost of $19,149.
– Agreed to hire an additional summer worker at an hourly salary of $8.
– Learned from plant superintendent Gary Pennington that he had purchased a utility vehicle at an approximate cost of $5,500 through the state purchasing program.