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CMA learns funding request delayed
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
By Wendy Lynn Brion Staff Writer
At the Clearfield Municipal Authority meeting yesterday Engineer Jim Balliet of Gwin, Dobson & Foreman Inc. reported on a meeting with the state Department of Environmental Protection July 30. He said DEP is requesting additional planning under Act 537. As a result, the request for funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority will be delayed.
Balliet said they tried to argue against the additional work DEP wants but the DEP representatives were insistent, even though in the past DEP had said it was not needed. This means both Act 537 plans for Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township will need revised and adopted by the municipalities. Also, it will be several months before they can go before PENNVEST with the funding request and Balliet said the project will probably be pushed back a couple of years. DEP will contact the Department of Community and Economic Development about extending the deadline for CMA to use its H2O grant money.
Balliet did say that DEP seems to be behind the project otherwise.
As part of all of this, the authority needs to purchase more nutrient credits before the end of September and Balliet is trying to find credits at a lower cost than last year. The authority will need to purchase more credits this year and if they can get them at a lower cost then the authority can hopefully pay roughly the same amount. The authority board then authorized Manager Jeff Williams to purchase credits as long as they are less than the price last year.
Also at the July 30 meeting DEP informed them that the borough and township systems should no longer contain storm water since both municipalities had separation projects and they should now closes the combined sewer overflow valves. DEP will be meeting with both the township and borough to further discuss the matter. However, the system is still experiencing overflows from extraneous water, and the deadline to track this down and correct it has moved closer, though Balliet did not have an exact date. He said they would have more information from DEP after the meetings.
Balliet also reported they are looking to fast track the Wolf Run waterline replacement project due to recent problems with leaks along state Route 879. The cost of the project will be approximately $500,000 and will be paid for with H2O funding.
The authority board discussed purchasing two vehicles to replace ones already in service. Williams suggested getting program vehicles like they have in the past and the board voted to advertise for the vehicles.
After a short executive session the board voted to give Williams a three percent raise, retroactive to January.
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