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Salem supervisors fund Crabtree-area sewer feasibility study; board discusses capacity and funding options
Summary
The board authorized an $8,515 transfer to pay Morris Knowles for a Crabtree-area sewer expansion feasibility study, discussed system capacity (14 Mile Run at ~30% usage) and noted private funding options; supervisors said study results and a PowerPoint presentation will be reviewed with Unity before public release.
The Salem Township Board of Supervisors approved transferring $8,515 from the Special Projects account to the Sewage Revenue account to pay Morris Knowles for a feasibility study on expanding sewer service in the Crabtree area.
Supervisor Kerry Jobe said the feasibility study and accompanying PowerPoint presentation are nearly complete. The current designs under consideration include Forbes Road, Coal Hollow, Crabtree and Hannastown; Totteridge was not expected to be tied in initially. Jobe said there would not be construction of a new plant and that flows would be pumped to the 14 Mile Run facility, which is currently running at about 30 percent capacity; adding Crabtree connections would increase system usage by an estimated 22 percent, according to the discussion in the meeting record.
Residents asked about timing for a public meeting. Resident Ed Rebitch and others mentioned private investment options, including a group called Sustainability Partners, which they said can fund projects off the Township’s books and allow repayment through user fees. Board members said the study must be reviewed internally and discussed with Unity before being shared with the public.
Separately, the board reviewed previously authorized intergovernmental work with FTMSA on sewer line defects and a variable frequency drive (VFD). Supervisors noted approximately $80,000–$90,000 remained from prior grant funds after cameraing lines but that repairs will cost slightly more than $100,000; if the leftover grant funds are not applicable, the sewage fund could cover the shortfall.
