Rates rise for PGJTA users
Published: August 26, 2010
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PINE GROVE - Customers of the Pine Grove Joint Treatment Authority (PGJTA) will have to dig just a little deeper into their pockets next year. A small rate increase, amounting to $5 per month, was approved August 17, effective January 1, 2011.
An increase had been predicted for 2013, and according to Authority Chairman, Bernie Kulkaski, it’s the first one since 2003.
Kulkaski attributed the necessity for the increase sooner partly to the loss of interest income. The authority, he said, had been earning $50,000 to $60,000 per year in interest, but it’s now down to $10,000. Costs for permit renewals are also going higher and higher. Although he admitted, a smaller increase each year may have been better, the one he was proposing was not unrealistic, but would require the board to strictly enforce regulations.
Harold “Bill” Zimmerman reminded the board it had spent ’big bucks’ on expansion plans for Oak Grove and Long Stretch roads, and Route 443, and, “There they sit,” said Zimmerman. The cost, according to authority records, was nearly $61,000.
Although the authority is operating in the black, it is not because of their cash flow. “We’re digging into our reserve,” said solicitor Rick Wiest.
The board agreed to place a notification of the increase on it’s fourth quarter billing postcard rather than sending a separate letter to each customer. A post card mailing, according to business manager, Diane Tobin, costs in excess of $300 and letters would cost even more.
A survey of the quarterly fees charged by nine Waste Water Treatment Plants in Schuylkill County indicated a wide range of charges (based on 20,000 gallons), from a low of $65 per quarter to a high of $219 per quarter. The new rate would place PGJTA third from the top at $140 per quarter. Of the three highest surveyed, two have already been taken over by the Schuylkill Municipal Authority, and the other was scheduled to be taken over.
As the result of a class-action lawsuit filed against the Pine Grove Township Supervisors and the JTA, and a recent order from Schuylkill County Judge Domalakes, the authority has scheduled hearings that six residents have requested. Those hearings were to have begun at 6 p.m. on August 24. (Details were unavailable, as of press production.)
According to Wiest, the township ordinance dictates a connection to the sewer line if a structure is located within 150 feet of a line. In the lawsuit, Donald Wenrich claimed the supervisors are not enforcing its own ordinance which requires a gravity flow system be installed in the township and not the low pressure system which had been installed in the area where Wenrich lives. According to Tobin and Wenrich, Wenrich had paid his required tapping fee and has also been paying his quarterly fees since July 2005, but has not made the connection.
Tobin requested the board enact a policy for her to implement to handle some of the unique tapping and quarterly fees situations she is uncovering.
For example, upon reviewing the borough’s tenant report, Tobin has found that some units are not on the JTA’s account listing. Some she found were not only not paying the correct number of quarterly fees, but the correct number of tapping fees had also not been paid. She noted she had billed those found for both tapping fees and a year of back quarterly fees. Some, she said, are paying, while others are refusing. However, she said, since the tapping fee charged in the l960s and the 1970s was quite different, she was requesting the board provide direction.
Tobin also described another problem which involved a bill she received of over $5,000 for work the property owner had done on his own to the sewer line. It was noted that the owner had paid the tapping fee, but had never had his lateral inspected. It was decided a meeting be scheduled between the property owner, the business manager, and the solicitor to discuss options.
Plant supervisor Nick Stark reported a part-time maintenance person had been hired. Of the 15 applicants screened, 7 were selected for interviewing, 4 of which were from the area, although one did not show up for the interview. Joe Moran, Saint Clair, was selected for the position.
According to Stark, there have already been two occasions when he would have liked Moran to work longer, and suggested that after the 3 month probationary period, the board may want to consider making him full-time. Upon Kulkaski’s direction, however, Stark is not restricted to a certain number of hours he can ask Moran to work, but suggested if he works more than 32 hours a week for 5 or 6 consecutive weeks, Moran may have to be offered health insurance.
The de-commissioning specifications for the old plant had been drawn up by Rettew several years ago, but because the plant is now being used to accept septage, some of the work is not necessary. Engineer, Ron Madison, provided a quote of $1,500 to rewrite the specifications and put it out for bids.
Rettew engineer Clayton Bubeck had been tasked with writing the original de-commissioning specifications in May 2008 but the project had never been done.
Stark recommended the board proceed with the septage receiving project now in a trial period at the old plant. The board must, however, apply for a water quality permit .
“There’s no problem continuing temporarily,” said Madison. The Department of Environmental Protection had been considering what they might require and has now made its decision. He noted Rettew’s permitting work will cost a few thousand dollars.
All three, Washington and Pine Grove townships and Pine Grove borough, have agreed to consider enacting an ordinance requiring lateral inspections at the time a property is sold. Wiest will have an ordinance ready for distribution by next meeting for the municipalities to review.
In other business,
• Stark’s I&I Tracking Report for the second quarter showed a 14% rate of I&I (inflow and infiltration). He measured 7.42 inches of rain for the period. The first quarter result showed 51% I&I and 7.96 inches of rain plus 40 inches of snow in February.
• Stark reported there were no problems with the Low Pressure Sewer System during the month of July.
• Stark listed three capital improvement projects to be considered for 2011 - replacement of the worn out Paco surge tank lift pumps at the old plant; the rehabilitation of pump station number 7 and 11 because of I&I and corrosion issues; and construction of an enclosure over the Ultraviolet room hatch.
• Stark reported the agreement with MEA (Mobile Environmental Analytical) has been signed and the discharge started. MEA is removing and treating water taken from the Red Arrow Gas Station property and disposing it into the Pine Grove Waste Water Treatment Plant.
