Crafton updates sewer projects; borough used eminent domain for single easement on Broadhead

Crafton Borough engineers reported progress on several sewer and road projects and provided timelines for upcoming work, and borough officials explained why they pursued eminent domain for one sewer easement on Broadhead.

Engineer Keenan said the Broadhead sewer project received EPA approval and is on standby to go out to bid pending an on-site meeting with the property owner and attorneys. Keenan also described an alternatives analysis for Ewing Road from Gateway that the infrastructure committee is reviewing; options include rebuilding the roadway in several configurations or constructing a new road near the Public Works building.

Officials announced the C-20 sewer separation project will begin on Monday, March 17. Keenan said initial work will include ground-penetrating radar, utility coordination and saw cutting, with excavation expected to begin in early April. Streets affected include Steuben Street, Linden Avenue and Duncan Avenue; the contractor intends to start on the Duncan segment between Maxwell and Stewin before moving to Linden and Steuben. Keenan said the work is not expected to be full road closures and that a Savvy post and other public notifications will appear before construction.

The borough also reported preliminary low bidders for the 2025 sewer O&M repairs program: State Pipe for a spot-lighting contract at about $127,000; JetJack for manual lining at about $336,000; and Roto-Rooter for excavation at about $265,000. Keenan said those results are preliminary pending a formal recommendation from Gateway.

The borough described options for a retaining wall on Station Street and said it received three design approaches for committee review. Keenan also said the Public Works building sewer lateral work is complete and the interior fit-out will go out to bid in the coming weeks.

During public comment, a resident asked where eminent domain would be used on Broadhead. Borough staff said the action applied only to a construction easement — not to taking a homeowner's property. The manager explained that the borough sought an easement after one property owner demanded substantially more than the assessed value for the required easement; the borough estimated the easement's value at about $4,000 while the owner sought roughly $30,000, so the borough pursued eminent domain to secure permission to install the sewer line beneath private property. Officials said the easement grants only the right to place and maintain sewer infrastructure, and the owner retains title to the surface land.

In public comment, residents also asked about sewer finances and service charges. Borough staff described that sewer revenues fund ongoing repairs, CCTV inspection programs, debt service from prior system investments, public works operations and capital equipment such as dump trucks. Staff noted that the borough owns its sewer system infrastructure and is responsible for maintenance and long-term repayment of past investments.