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$30M coming to county for sewer projects
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
More than $30 million in state money will be coming to Washington County to help with sewer projects in a number of municipalities, it was announced Wednesday.
Of that total, $5 million will be going to the Millers Run Project in Cecil Township, which has been the subject of resident complaints over tap-in fees. The same amount will be going to Hanover Township Sewer Authority for a wastewater treatment plant serving the Bavington and Florence areas and to the Independence-Cross Creek Joint Sewer Authority for the installation of sewer lines, a pump station and treatment plant.
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In a news release, state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, said economic growth "depended upon well-designed and well-maintained infrastructure," and "reaching these goals is nearly impossible without help from the state."
Other communities receiving grants include:
• Chartiers and Canton townships, which are getting $2.2 million to install 1.6 miles of sewer lines;
• South Franklin Township, a little more than $483,000 for construction of a sewer collector, interceptor and force main;
• North Strabane Township Municipal Authority, $2.5 million for the Linden Creek sewer project, which includes the construction of a little more than 32,000 feet of sewer lines for water treatment;
• Washington Street Storm Sewer Project in Bentleyville, $250,000 to replace a deteriorating sewer pipe system that has caused street flooding;
• Center-West Joint Sewer Authority, $5 million for sewage treatment in West Brownsville;
• Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority, $5 million for installation of water lines along Route 221 in Washington Township, Greene County, and Route 19 in Amwell Township, Washington County.
State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, said the $5 million Cecil Township is getting is $3 million more than he originally estimated. He also hopes a portion of the money will be used for rebates to homeowners who paid a $6,200 tap-in fee, an amount White describes as "exorbitant."
"I think the goal is that everyone would get a rebate on those outrageous fees."
Dennis Bell, manager of the Cecil Township Municipal Authority, couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.
The grants are part of the H20 PA Act, a state program designed to help municipalities and authorities pay for repairs to their water, sewer and flood-control systems.
The program is funded through proceeds from the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund.
Good news finally! : 7/16/2009
Good for the county and especially us here in Cecil as long as local govenrment gives us our rebate!!!!!!!!!!
$6,200 TAP : 7/16/2009
Very high is an understatement. Is this the price communities face when our local/county government officials fail to plan and manage and local people resist change for so many years. How much lower would those tap in fees been had other communities joined in (yes, distance doesn't help). Communities need to collaborate more, lose the mini-kingdoms and share services and costs. The H2O PA Act just started last year and we should be collectively kicking butt up the ladder to leverage this to the most effective way possible for our resident to reduce these types of fees. Hey, just an idea guys let the Drillers build there own waste treatment plant in cooperation with local muni so when they run out after the well is dry, we have a treatment plant left behind to build on (instead of just the contaminated water and such).
Go get them Jesse : 7/16/2009
Yes, very high is an understatement and yes it is GREAT news for us who had to pay that tap in fee. But I'm not holding my breath, if the Municipal Authority is responsible for giving out the rebate I'm sure they will find reasons for not following through. Another thing why was Mr. Bell unable to be reached doesn't he work for us off our tax dollars? If he was unreachable who is next in line? Stick too your guns Jessie your our last hope, the Authority will have to come with some answers sooner or later.
PrePaid Expansion : 7/17/2009
Early adopters should be receiveing "rebates" or rate freezes or something as new development comes in. The more people you have on the system the bill is shared by more meaning less per household, or one would think. Monongahela expansion was able to capitalize on grant money. Double the people on the system at only 20% increase of cost should SAVE people money. Like it was said earlier, we will see what the authority will use to defend its cost down the road.
