Sellersville proceeds with storm sewer replacement
Sellersville Borough will not have to exercise its right of eminent domain to complete a storm sewer project after the borough and a property owner reached a deal just days before borough council was poised to condemn the property.
Borough Manager David Rivet announced the deal at a special meeting of borough council Sept. 24.
“The homeowner at 505 WashingWRn $vH. DnG WKH ERrRuJK wHrH DEOH to come to an agreement,” he said.
The borough has been looking to replace a section of storm sewer pipe that runs along Washington $vHnuH, DnG wKLOH ERrRuJK FRunFLO was set to award the contract for the project at its Sept. 10 meeting, it had yet to obtain a necessary easement. The outlet of the pipe is located on the property at 505 Washington $vH., RwnHG Ey WKH GRrPDn IDPLOy.
Borough Solicitor Randall White reported at the Sept. 10 meeting the borough had offered to make imSrRvHPHnWV WR WKH GRrPDnV’ SrRSerty in exchange for the necessary easement, but an agreement had not been reached at that point.
Gary Gorman attended the Sept. 10 meeting and voiced his concerns to council, saying he did not agree with the scope of the project and was concerned about the amount of storm water that accumulates on his property.
At that meeting, council authorized advertisement of an ordinance that would have given the borough permission to condemn the Gormans’ SURSHUWY. 2IfiFLDOV VDLG they would work with the Gormans to avoid having to take that measure, but if no mutual agreement was reached, council was set to vote on the ordinance at the special Sept. 24 meeting.
“We were able to do it without doing a condemnation to everyone’s satisfaction and relief,” Rivet said.
Rivet reported in ad- dition to agreeing to the easement, the Gormans said they did not want all of the improvements proposed by the borough, meaning the project will cost less than originally thought.
:LWK WKH fiQDO HDVHPHQW gained, council was free to award the bid for the storm sewer project.
Council awarded the bid to SJM Construction in the amount of $229,862.