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Perry County officials say funding gaps and timing threaten Act 537 sewage planning
Summary
County workgroup members told Perry County officials and township representatives that delays by a grants writer, limited state planning funds and mismatched grant cycles are impeding updates to the Act 537 multi‑municipal sewage facilities plan and creating compliance uncertainty.
Perry County workgroup members said funding shortfalls and the timing of available grants are hindering updates to the Act 537 multi‑municipal sewage facilities plan that several townships need to meet state requirements. The host, serving as the meeting moderator, said the county may have to apply for multiple grants to finance the planning work and that calendar mismatches make coordination difficult.
"It's almost like everything has to be tied to a date that can work together as far as the grants go," the moderator said, describing scenarios in which agencies award multi‑year grants that require local matching funds and careful scheduling. The presenter suggested a potential per‑municipality cost share in the range of $15,000 to $19,000 if grants do not fully cover planning expenses.
The discussion underscored two related challenges: a lack of clarity about enforcement timelines in Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) correspondence and limited county staff capacity to produce grant applications. Participants said they had not all seen the DEP letters and therefore could not confirm whether the notices contained precise deadlines. "The letter, the threat letters that the municipalities receive over this is uncalled for really," the moderator said.
Officials said DEP representatives told attendees at a recent luncheon that the agency recognizes it needs to improve support to municipalities. Still, the group pressed for clearer pathways to help small townships that lack utility departments and engineering staff. One attendee noted Penn State offers low‑cost well testing and homeowner education programs that could complement plan work.
The meeting did not produce any formal direction or votes. Staff said they will monitor draft DEP rule changes expected later in the year, including proposed requirements for mandatory backup drainfield sites and expanded acceptance of at‑grade systems in marginal soils, and will report back when the draft is posted for comment.
Next steps: county staff and township representatives said they will continue coordinating grant writing and will notify each other when specific DEP deadlines or grant opportunities are known. No formal action or funding commitment was made at the meeting.
