Weather delays sewage plant in Freeport, Swartz stadium work

The weather hasn’t been kind to Freeport in regard to major projects the borough has in the works.

Rain and unusually high water levels in Buffalo Creek have delayed at least two ongoing projects.

The borough got a one-year reprieve on the deadline for finishing the design of its new sewage treatment plant.

Now, the design of the $12 million treatment plant isn’t due until early 2021.

The project has encountered several delays, one of which halted construction of a shoring area along Buffalo Creek for about six months last winter due to unusually high water levels.

Workers from Jet Jack Inc. finally were able to install a large receptor pipeline to receive combined flow from stormwater and sewage lines. The 27-inch line will allow raw sewage to be treated instead of risking overflows going into Buffalo Creek.

Also, about 15 to 20 new manholes have been installed in the borough as part of the project’s initial phase.

Engineering is being handled by KLH Engineering of Robinson Township.

In addition to the sewer project, rainy weather has delayed scraping and repainting the light towers at James Swartz Memorial Stadium.

Dan Thimons Contracting was approved to do the work late last year, but Thimons needs about four days of dry weather before starting on the work.

The borough received a $55,000 state grant to renovate the field. The grant included money for the tower work along with installation of new playground equipment, picnic tables and trash cans.

Freeport Area School District played its football and baseball games there for 76 years through the 2015 football season.

The lights were installed midway through the 1947 scholastic football season.