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Linda Harkcom 724-887-6101
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Monday - June 17, 2013

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Yough students learn lessons in the great outdoors

Mt. Pleasant Township Municipal Authority made it clear Tuesday night that it doesn't intend to expand on the recently completed Norvelt sewage project anytime soon.

Resident William Uschock asked the board if there would be expansion of the sewage lines either to the area of his furniture along Mt. Pleasant Road near the Westmoreland County fairgrounds or toward his farm in the Carpentertown area of the township.

Board member Lee Speer explained that the original project didn't include those areas because of restrictions placed by the USDA Rural Development and other funding sources.

“The funding sources determine where we were allowed to go, based on the number of EDUs (equivalent dwelling unit) in that area,” Speer said.

“We are not looking at expanding. At this point, we are concentrating on trying to wrap everything up on this current project,” Treasurer James Genard said.

Uschock asked if there is other funding sources available or if there would be possible expansion if a long-ago proposed Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange in Carpentertown were to be built.

“If a developer of the federal government comes in and said we'll pay to put this in, then we can do that. Until then, we will not. But we have to pass this hurdle first,” Vice President Charles Naggy said.

He introduced the authority's new engineer, Daniel Schmitt of Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co. Inc. of Latrobe. He will serve as project engineer on any new and future projects for the authority.

“I appreciate the opportunity and hope I don't let you down,” Schmitt said.

The board voted to enter into an agreement to borrow $45,000 from Mt. Pleasant Township, which is to be repaid in one year. Genard explained there had been some confusion regarding the date of the authority's first payment to the USDA Rural Utility Service and with it, concern about having enough money to make the payment on time.

“We think we will have the money in time, but just in case, we are going to go ahead and borrow the money,” Genard said.

In other board action:

·Approved two resolutions related to the sale of homes in the project area. The first sets a fee of $50 to cover office expenses for producing a no-lien certificate. The second establishes requirements for a lateral inspection at the time of a property sale or transfer. Naggy explained the inspection is necessary to make sure the line is up to code.

·Passed the reduction of monthly sewage rates to $30 per EDU for vacant properties and billing agreements with property owners, which allows for the sewage bill to be sent to renters. If the renter does not pay the bill, it will then be sent to the property owner.

Linda Harkcom is a freelance writer.

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