Second phase of sewage project put on hold
BULLSKIN TWP. — A lack of federal funds has stalled the second phase of a sewage project for the Bullskin Township/Connellsville Township Joint Sewerage Authority.
The authority on Wednesday briefly discussed the project that includes providing public sewage to parts of Bullskin Township.
“We’re in line and waiting just like everyone else,” said authority chairman Pat Stefano of the funding.
“The project is on hold indefinitely,” Stefano added.
Widmer Engineering of Connellsville estimated the project last year to cost over $10 million that involved a section of Route 982 along with Skate Lane, Longanecker Road and a portion of Pleasant Valley Road near West Penn Power.
In an unrelated project, the authority agreed to have Widmer create a design to extend its system to eight homes on Garden Street in Bullskin Township affected by raw sewage.
According to Stefano, the problem is being created by failing systems causing a health hazard.
The project was estimated at $81,000, with the authority agreeing to contact the Bullskin Township supervisors to see if the municipality can help offset the cost since it involves a township road.
After discussing the matter, the authority found if would take about 20 years to recoup $9,600 for eight tap-ins in addition to the $41 a month service fee for each one.
“These people are included in the phase two project so we need to start what we have to do,” Stefano said.
Stefano noted however that only two households need to be picked up to solve the problem.
“Once the project is designed we’ll figure out how to fund it and maybe break it down so we can start putting lines in the ground,” Stefano said.
Turning to other business, the authority learned that Fay-Penn Economic Development Council inquired if the authority could extend its lines on property Fay-Penn purchased along Route 119 property in Upper Tyrone Township.
Stefano referred to the property as the Kendi farm stating that Fay-Penn would need to have sewage before any development could start.
Stefano further added it would not be feasible for the authority to extend the lines since the closest one is over 8,000 feet away from the property.
The authority also heard from Julie Paull, office manager, 911 customers were billed in September at $43,267 while the authority received $45,131 that reflected a minus five percent delinquency.
Paull said some bills were duplicated because of home purchases.