Sewage plant set for facelift
The 50-year old Donaldson’s Crossroads Sewage Treatment Plant on West McMurray Road in Peters may soon be getting a $20.9 million facelift if financing for the project can be arranged.
On Monday, James Miskis, township sanitary authority manager, gave council members an update on the project, which would increase capacity by about 45 percent.
The authority began plans to expand it in 2009, when it projected the plant would reach capacity within five years. The plant serves mostly commercial customers and residents living in the southwestern portion of the township.
The authority purchased 3.5 acres next to the treatment plant in 2000 for an expansion and recently completed the design and permitting phase of the project.
Mr. Miskis said he hoped to begin construction early next year and complete it by December 2017.
The authority was recently turned down for a low-interest loan
from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, commonly called PennVest. The statewide organization uses a priority ranking system to distribute limited funding for water and sewage projects.
Mr. Miskis said the Peters authority will again attempt to secure an $11 million PennVest loan in October. With interest rates as low as 1.63 percent, the government loan would save ratepayers $4 million in interest costs over 30 years, he said.
“I think our chances increase a little going back a second time,” to the PennVest board, Mr. Miskis said. “But, it depends on our competition.”
The authority hopes to combine a PennVest loan with a $10 million bond issue guaranteed by the township.
With the township’s AA credit rating backing it, Mr. Miskis said the authority would save between $650,000 and $1.3 million over a typical bond issue.
The new construction will result in higher bills for ratepayers, who typically pay about $35 per month now. By 2018, Mr. Miskis said customers can expect to pay $45-$50 per month, depending on interest rates.
The plant is implementing a corrective action plan to control waning capacity by limiting the number of new tap-ins and increasing sewer rehabilitation efforts.
Also Monday, council members debated whether to continue with the summer road rejuvenation project, despite cost overruns.
Earlier this summer, council members tabled a decision about the fate of the program, which lengthens the life of road paving material by treating the asphalt layer. Paving costs were higher than expected, but township manager Michael Silvestri said the township found cost savings in other areas to continue the program.
The board approved continuing the program, along with a $114,022 bid from Pavement Technology Inc. of Covington, Ga. for this year’s rejuvenator work. Council also: • Unanimously named Brittany Smith to the parks and recreation board. Her term will expire in January 2017. Ms. Smith replaces former member William “Buzz” Gardner.
• Approved phase four of the Hamlet of Springdale development. The new phase includes the construction of seven homes and the extension of Buckingham Drive. The 46-acre development includes six phases and 51 new homes.
• Rejected a bid for household hazardous waste collection services from Tradebe Environmental Services for an estimated $42,000. Officials will rebid the project in the hope of garnering more bids.
• Set 7:30 p.m. Sept.14 for a public hearing about new flood plain regulations. The township is required to develop new regulations within new Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines to continue to offer residents flood insurance.