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Authority approves SR19 sewer project contracts, financing steps and legal agreement
Summary
The Neshannock Creek Watershed Joint Municipal Authority voted unanimously to hire legal counsel and approve steps to borrow through Pennvest, execute three construction contracts (one contingent on insurance) and open a Pennvest bank account for the SR19 South Sewer Project.
The Neshannock Creek Watershed Joint Municipal Authority voted on May 12 to advance the State Route 19 South Sewer Project by approving a legal-services contract, construction contracts and related financing steps.
Bill Finley Jr. moved and Clifford Hughes seconded approval of a Legal Services Agreement with Barr and Shaffer for the SR19 South Sewer Project in the amount of $12,500 plus out-of-pocket expenses; the motion carried unanimously. The board also adopted Resolution No. 02-2026 authorizing borrowing from Pennvest and Resolution No. 03-2026, a reimbursement resolution, and Resolution No. 04-2026 committing to set the sewer user fees required for the project three months before amortization begins.
Dan Goncz, speaking during the Engineer's Report, said the project has a pre-settlement call on April 20 and a settlement date of July 17, 2026, and urged board members to review an attached project fact sheet. He noted, "There will be (3) mandatory connections in East Lack. Twp. and (20)+ properties in Springfield Twp.," and recommended sending the fact sheet to SR19 property owners after the June meeting. The board authorized staff to make the required notifications and to proceed with related procurement and financing steps.
The board voted to execute Contracts #1 (Pennwest Specialized Services) and #2 (Wagner Electric) and approved Contract #3 (Heckman Diversified Construction Services) contingent upon receipt of acceptable certificates of insurance; the motion for the contingent approval carried unanimously. The minutes record that contractors had until May 1 to provide bonds and insurance; the board recorded the contingency rather than executing Contract #3 unconditionally.
To receive and administer Pennvest funds, the authority approved opening a dedicated account at First National Bank with signers listed as Pat Suhrie, Bill Finley Jr. and Robert Gregory. The board also authorized staff to apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a partial release, subordination, or consent so the authority may borrow funds from Pennvest, and approved a Certificate of Debt documenting the authority's inability to refinance existing USDA debt.
The minutes use the terms "Pennvest" (for the project loan program) and "Pennwest Specialized Services" (as the name of Contract #1). That spelling difference appears in the transcript and should be clarified by staff; the meeting record does not reconcile those two names. The motions on the SR19 package passed unanimously.
