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Salem supervisors transfer funds to finish Crabtree-area sewage feasibility study; possible private financing discussed
Summary
The board authorized an $8,515 transfer to pay Morris Knowles for a Crabtree-area sewer feasibility study and heard that the study’s PowerPoint is complete; supervisors said the plan would pump to 14 Mile Run, currently at roughly 30% capacity, potentially adding about 22% more flow. Residents and supervisors discussed private funding options.
The Salem Township Board of Supervisors on Oct. 16 authorized transferring $8,515 from the Special Projects account to the Sewage Revenue account to pay Morris Knowles for a feasibility study on expanding sewage service in the Crabtree area.
Supervisor Kerry Jobe said the feasibility study is nearly complete and a PowerPoint presentation has been prepared for internal review and discussion with Unity prior to public release. "Everything looks promising but we must review it internally and discuss it with Unity before sharing with the public," Jobe said.
Board discussion and resident comments described the study area and how new flows would be handled. Current designs under consideration include Forbes Road, Coal Hollow, Crabtree and Hannastown; Totteridge is not planned for initial connection. According to the discussion, sewage would be pumped to 14 Mile Run, which the board said is running at about 30% capacity; adding Crabtree hookups was described as potentially increasing system load by roughly 22%.
Resident Ed Rebitch and other attendees raised the possibility of private financing. "There is private investment money out there," Rebitch said, describing a group called Sustainability Partners that, according to him, would fund a project and allow repayment through user fees without putting debt on the township or authority. Supervisors did not adopt any financing plan at the meeting; they said further review with Unity and follow-up public discussions will occur before any construction decision.
The transfer passed unanimously. The board also authorized advertising a special meeting to hire for a road-crew position and to apply for Statewide LSA grant funds.
Next steps: staff will complete the internal review of the feasibility materials, meet with Unity, then schedule a public presentation and further discussion of financing and timeline.
