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Salem supervisors fund Crabtree-area sewage feasibility work as study nears completion
Summary
Salem Township authorized an $8,515 transfer to cover Morris Knowles’ feasibility-study fees for a proposed Crabtree-area sewage expansion and heard that current plans would pump to the under‑utilized 14 Mile Run trunk line; residents asked about timing and private funding options.
The Salem Township Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 16 to transfer $8,515 from the Special Projects account to the Sewage Revenue account to pay Morris Knowles for a feasibility study on expanding sewer service to the Crabtree area.
Supervisor Kerry Jobe said the feasibility study and a PowerPoint presentation are nearly complete. Current designs under consideration include Forbes Road, Coal Hollow, Crabtree and Hannastown; Totteridge is not slated for initial connection. Jobe said the scheme would not build a new treatment plant but would pump flows to the 14 Mile Run system, which he described as running at roughly 30 percent capacity and able to accept an estimated additional 22 percent.
Residents asked procedural questions about public meetings and funding. Resident Dwight Sarver asked about timing for a public meeting; resident Ed Rebitch noted Sustainability Partners as one private investor that may fund projects off‑balance‑sheet, repaid through user fees. Jobe said the township must review the study internally and discuss it with Unity before sharing details with the public.
The board approved the transfer unanimously. The action funds completion of the consultant work necessary to determine potential service areas and technical requirements; any transfer of service or construction would require additional approvals, sanitary‑sewer tap allocations from FTMSA/DEP as applicable, and further public notice.
Next steps identified at the meeting include final internal review of the consultant materials, coordination with Unity and FTMSA on capacity and tap allocations, and scheduling a public presentation once the township and partners have vetted the study.
