Jun 8, 2010 By Christine Haines 2 min read

LUZERNE TWP. – The Luzerne Township Sewage Authority Monday voted to deny further extensions to a Craftmore Road man who still hasn’t tapped into the sewerage system. Chuck Hughes asked the authority to grant him an extension until the line is extended further up Craftmore Road, or an extension of the sewer line up his driveway.

“I’m not going to go into debt for it at my age and my condition,” Hughes told the authority.

Hughes has already been cited for failure to tap into the system as required.

Office manager Michele Plutch said Magisterial District Judge Mike Defino had continued the last hearing for Hughes, telling him to approach the authority for an extension. Hughes is due back in Defino’s courtroom today.

“We all know the sewerage is worth more than all of the houses here together, but the federal government says you have to have it. You’re no different than anyone else. You’ve had four or five extensions, more than anyone else had. It’s been going on for more than a year,” said Pat Ballon, chairman of the authority. “You need to comply. Follow the rules. Do whatever needs to be done.”

In other matters, authority vice chairman Joe Terravecchia said he spoke with Bill Johnson of Fayette Engineering, which is designing the new sewer system for the Swan Plan.

Terravecchia said a public meeting for residents in the project area is expected to be held in mid-July, with the project possibly starting by the end of August.

Although the Brownsville Municipal Authority is doing the project, solicitor Jack Purcell said Luzerne Township would be guaranteeing the loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Engineer Don Reho of Widmer Engineering, Luzerne’s engineering firm, said the plans for a new force main at the Maxwell plant are ready to be advertised for bids. Reho said he would schedule the bid opening for mid-July so he can review the bids prior to the August meeting.

“If all goes well, you can award it that night,” Reho said.