Project manager: Waynesburg sewer funding will weather federal storm
Two of the three grants for Waynesburg’s sewer rehabilitation project have been secured, and none of its overall sewer funding appears to be imperiled by potential funding cuts, the project manager told the Waynesburg Borough Council.
The $996,000 project will include lining sewers in the Woodland Avenue area, along High and Greene streets and along Morgan and Morris streets.
Waynesburg applied for a $520,000 Local Share Account grant last fall. In his monthly report to the council on Monday, Robert Dengler said the state would be looking at those applications in September.
“By this fall, we should know if we get that grant and how much money we have for that project,” he said.
The borough has also secured Environmental Protection Agency and Community Development Block Grant funding.
CDBG funding totaling $76,000 will be used for work on the low- to moderate-income area south of Greene Street.
Another $400,000 is coming via the EPA’s State and Tribal Assistance Grant. Addressing an issue President Pro Tempore Lynne Snyder brought up in February, Dengler said the federal upheaval in funding with Department of Government Efficiency cuts have not affected funding for any of the borough’s sewer projects.
The EPA appropriations request, made by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, was included in a 2024 spending bill already approved by Congress.
“Congress would have to make an act to take it out, because they’ve already appropriated that money,” Dengler said. “So that money is there for the borough to use, is what they told me. That’s a little harder to pull that back. So I think we’re OK as far as grant money goes. There’s no guarantee, obviously, but it doesn’t look like there’s any risk, at least right now.”
The borough’s sanitary system project is being funded with federal Rural Utilities Services money. RUS had informed Dengler that they’re still moving ahead with the project, Dengler said.
“I think you’ve seen there’s been some pushback from various agencies,” he said. “I think that’s kind of helpful. I don’t think they’re going to be taking everything away at this point.”
Dengler also updated the council on other infrastructure projects.
For the sanitary sewer system project, Dengler said the erosion, sedimentation and stormwater plans for the RUS project at the treatment plant have been submitted to the Greene County Conservation District. Once those are approved, the borough will be able submit the design to RUS and the state’s Department of Environmental Protection for a Water Quality Management Pt. II permit.
Dengler anticipates getting approvals at the end of the year, and bidding out the project early next year. Construction would start in spring or summer.
The council approved $51,834 for engineering design services for the RUS project.
“We’re getting toward the end of the design phase here and looking to get into the permitting,” he said.
As for the borough’s sanitary sewer system repair, results of the manhole testing have been submitted along with the video of the new sewer installed along Morgan Street. Documents to close out the contract have been submitted to the contractor.
The council also approved a resolution applying for funding through the PA Small Water & Sewer Grant program, which can be used on projects ranging from $30,000 to $500,000.
That money would go towards rehabilitating 32 manholes on Waynesburg’s interceptor sewer system. Doing so would improve the structural integrity of the and prevent stormwater inflow and infiltration, Dengler said in his report.