Kasunic acquires funds for repairs
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – Officials expressed gratitude for the quick response of a local lawmaker who helped secure funds to repair sewerage lines that recently collapsed when an underground mine gave way in early December. Township supervisors and the Bullskin Township/Connellsville Township Joint Sewer Authority board was notified Thursday that state Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar, had secured a $10,000 grant for the township.
The news came as both agencies began taking the necessary steps to support the lines and repair the section of Buttermore Boulevard that has been closed off to vehicular traffic since early December.
“(Kasunic) was certainly Johnny-on-the-spot in helping us,” said Fred Robbins, authority board member. “We knew last week when we met with everyone that we had his support and he was going to do everything in his power to help us and he did.”
Kasunic, along with local, county, state and federal lawmakers, and representatives of the state Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation and the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, met with supervisors and authority members last week to discuss the need for funding.
“With a lingering road closure and the threat of additional damage to two sewer lines, this funding will enable the sewer authority to make timely and necessary repairs,” Kasunic said.
According to Robbins, Roger Suter and Sons of Connellsville will begin work today to uncover the collapsed lines and determine how to support them to prevent any breakage or damage.
After learning of the collapse, the authority put a camera in the lines and found that although under water they remained operable.
Later, a drilling company along with a geologist was brought in to determine the underground environment.
After the exploratory drilling was completed, Earthtech Inc. registered professional geologist Bob Osborn confirmed that previous mining had likely caused the road to collapse and sewer lines to sink.
Mining maps indicate that the area was mined by the H.C. Frick Coal and Coke Co. in the early 1920s of the Pittsburgh coal seam.
Township supervisor and roadmaster Bob Carson said that he was “very pleased” with Kasunic’s quick response to the matter.
“(Kasunic) knows that we do not have the funding to make any of these repairs,” he said. “We’re very grateful he saw our need and responded.”
Robbins, meanwhile, said that while an $8,500 price tag has been attached to the project, it does not include the costs for the engineering or geologist services, drilling or repairs to the road.
“Like the township, we all put away money for repairs when something breaks,” he said. “But this is not what we had in mind when we did set money aside. We could take out a loan to pay for this, but how do we pay it back or what do we use to make repairs when an old line breaks or gets plugged.
Robbins said he is hopeful additional funds will soon be acquired from other sources.
“We can only hope the others that met with us last week realize the situation we are in and offer some help.”