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Water and Sewer Authority receives extension

By Staff | Aug 31, 2010

MUNCY – The Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority has received an additional three months to complete a water system project in the eastern part of the county.

Reports stated the county commissioners approved the extension, which will give the authority until the end of February to complete a project originally set to be completed at the end of November.

The project is partially funded by a $470,000 federal State Tribal Assistance grant acquired by the county on behalf of the authority.

An agreement between the two entities set the November completion date, but an unexpected delay in the state’s review of the construction award documents made that impossible, said William Kelly, deputy director of the county Department of Planning and Community Development.

The project connects the authority’s water system at Halls Station with the Borough of Muncy’s water system. The connection will allow the authority to provide water for businesses planning to locate in and around the undeveloped portion of Muncy Industrial Park.

The commissioners also approved a grant extension from the federal government to give the county a four-month extension for using the grant.

According to Kelly, the extra month will allow county staff to complete grant close-out documents. In the event the authority runs into additional delays with project construction, it also will give the county an opportunity to extend the authority’s completion time, he said.

At the Muncy Borough meeting, the newly created West Branch Regional Sewer Authority continued to take shape as the board approved by-laws and elected officers.

The fundamental operations approved are necessary for the board to proceed as it accomplishes unfinished business, including deciding the site of a new sewer treatment plant expected to cost at least $20 million.

Engineer Paul A. Krizan said two sites near the State Corrections Institution at Muncy are being scrutinized as candidates for plant construction.

Krizan, a Larson Design Group engineer who is assisting the regional board until a permanent engineer is named, said archeology testing has occurred at a lot across Route 405 from the prison, and another nearby lot within the intersection of two railroad tracks.

The archeological testing, which Krizan said is mandated by the state, already has begun.

He said it will cost more than $100,000 to assure there are no disruptions to any prehistoric sanctity.

“They have to search for things that indicate there was prehistoric human activity,” he said. “They look for things like a concentration of arrowheads, cooking supplies and fire pits.”

The board agreed to continue to monitor such developments at monthly public meetings which will be held at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Montgomery Borough office, where the regional authority’s records will be kept.

Authority officers for the rest of the year include:

Richard Miller of Montgomery Borough, chairman.

Teri Snyder of Muncy Creek Township, vice chairwoman.

Thomas Gardner of Muncy Borough, secretary.

David Eakin of Clinton Township, treasurer

Lynn Crist of Montgomery Borough, assistant secretary.

Charles Leonard of Muncy Borough, assistant treasurer.

Sherry Young, who also serves as Montgomery Borough secretary, was appointed the authority’s interim Right to Know officer.

The board has yet to select other assistance, including its solicitor, engineer and bank depository.

Sensing the authority has its origins in place, attorney Jens H. Damgaard of the Harrisburg law firm Rhoads and Sinon made it apparent his work virtually is completed.

He said he’d make himself available to the board upon request.