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Water authority likely to build new plant

By Patty Yauger pyauger@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard

The North Fayette Water Authority’s water treatment plant is located in Dunbar Township, where the authority draws water from the Youghiogheny River.

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John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard

The North Fayette Water Authority’s water treatment plant, pictured in the August file photo, is located in Dunbar Township, where the authority draws water from the Youghiogheny River.

It appears that the North Fayette County Municipal Authority (NFCMA) board is poised to construct a water treatment facility to meet the future needs of its customers and the county.

At its November meeting, Senate Engineering of Uniontown was directed to finalize its feasibility study that when completed will allow the authority to proceed to the next phase.

“The board has done its due diligence in studying the matter by looking at all its options,” said Robert Softcheck, authority general manager. “It is now time to move forward.”

In June, the board commissioned the engineering firm to examine the feasibility of constructing a new plant to replace the current 115-year-old facility and determine the cost if the aging plant was abandoned and water purchased from the neighboring Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC).

In September, the board learned that the estimated price tag for each was about $29 million.

The cost drew the concern of the board and prompted members to request that Senate review the current plant to determine if it could be rehabilitated at a lesser cost.

While it was reduced, Softcheck said that it would remain a “horrendous structure.”

“To put millions of dollars into a deteriorating structure is not a good investment,” he said.

As the feasibility study is being finalized, Softcheck said that the property where the new treatment facility will be located, if approved, is being appraised.

In October, the board directed solicitor Douglas Sepic to retain an appraiser to evaluated the value of a 292-acre property owned by Coastal Lumber Co., of Buchannon, West Virginia.

Initially, the board was considering a 58-acre portion of the parcel, but has since determined it would be more beneficial to purchase the entire property.

Softcheck said he anticipates the information to be available at the Dec. 22 meeting.

Turning to other business, the board hired attorney Todd Stewart of Hawke, McKeon and Sniscak of Harrisburg to represent the authority in a legal matter tied to a request by Pennsylvania American Water Company (PAWC) to construct pump stations within Fayette County.

In October, the county Zoning Hearing Board denied the commercial water supplier’s request for special exceptions to build pump stations in Dunbar Township to allow it to pressurize water lines supplying a storage tank that serves about 200 customers in the vicinity of the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville airport and a second station near its Indian Creek treatment plant to enhance supplies to its Uniontown customers.

Since, Pennsylvania American has appealed the local ruling to the state Public Utility Commission.

Softcheck said that North Fayette believes the proper infrastructure is in place for Pennsylvania American to provide water service to its customers without burdening them with added costs tied to the construction.

North Fayette sells water to Pennsylvania American for its Dunbar customer base while MAWC furnishes the water for its Uniontown customers. The current NFCMA and Pennsylvania American contract expires in May.

According to Softcheck, the construction of the pump stations and associated pipelines would cost about $2 million.

“That would be passed along to the customers,” he said, adding that the water supplier refused to negotiate with North Fayette to reduce its costs. “The board has agreed to pursue this matter.”

In other action, the board also conducted the following business:

n Agreed to invest $500,000 in a one-year certificate of deposit with First National Bank of PA; $1 million in a two-year certificate of deposit with United Federated Credit Union and $500,000 in a three-year certificate of deposit with Wells Fargo. The money resulted from a paid up 1985 bond issue. The authority will net 1 percent in interest for the one-year term and 1.5 percent interest for the 2- and 3-year terms.

n Removed a $217 surcharge from the Fayette County Fair Board water account.

n Reminded customers a minimum $100 charge will be levied should a water meter need replaced. Failure to protect the meter from freezing will cause a meter to break and stop water service.

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