Board hears multiple facilities concerns, including drainage at new Liberty Curtin building and sewer impacts

The facilities committee told the board on Nov. 6 about several ongoing capital and maintenance issues, including sewer blockages, staffing shortages and unexpected water infiltration at the new Liberty Curtin elementary building.

Committee members said Bald Eagle Township reported objects collecting in a shared sewer collection basin that require frequent cleaning and added expense for the township. The committee asked the township to quantify any additional fee rather than installing an on-site collection system, which would be significantly more expensive.

"They suggested that we install a collection system on the sewer line ... that would be very expensive to do," the facilities chair said, and committee members said they were awaiting a formal fee request from the township.

Facilities staff also reported multiple unfilled custodial and maintenance positions and noted the district is on the lower end of local wages; filling vacancies is difficult compared with local private-sector pay. The committee suggested the finance committee consider whether wage adjustments or a memorandum of understanding with support staff are needed.

At the new Liberty Curtin building, the committee reported unanticipated water seeping into a surface drain basin that was intended for surface runoff only. "There is gonna be a meeting ... with Lobar, Crabtree, and ELA engineering" to evaluate solutions, the facilities report said; the district indicated the engineering firms and contractors must resolve permit-related responsibilities before the district assumes liability.

The committee recommended agenda approvals for four items: adding $3,650 to a previously awarded low bid to complete additional curbing at Mill Hall Elementary, purchasing a Bobcat mower to replace aged equipment, authorizing the business manager to lock in a natural-gas price for UGI when advantageous, and approving materials-only HVAC repairs at Veil Hall to avoid replacing full units.

Board members raised safety concerns about a contractor disclaimer advising against use of deicers on the new Liberty Curtin sidewalks; staff said the disclaimer is intended to limit warranty claims but emphasized they will keep sidewalks safe.

On the Bobcat purchase, administration said the district budgeted $30,000 for equipment and anticipated $25,000 in proceeds from equipment sales and recycling, leaving sufficient funds to buy a locally sourced unit that can perform mowing and snow removal while replacing a 20-year-old machine that experienced engine failure.

The board placed the recommended facilities items on the meeting agenda for action.