The Foster Township Supervisors approved a resolution Monday,
officially setting the monthly sewer rates for residential and
commercial/industrial customers per the new Act 537 plan.

According to the resolution, those customers whose lines were
installed prior to Jan. 1, 2006 will continue to pay a
$20-per-month residential fee or the $20 per equivalency dwelling
unit (an EDU, or one hook-up into the system) for commercial and
industrial customers. Residential customers whose lines were
installed after Jan. 1 will be charged $43 per month; commercial
and industrial customers will be charged $43 per EDU.

“That may seem like a high monthly fee,” Supervisor Chris
Wolcott said, “but it is based on the cost of putting in the new
line.” He went on to say the figure was also based on state
Department of Environmental Protection recommendations.

“This is how it was written into the Act 537 plan that was
approved by the DEP,” Wolcott said.

The township has a handful of sewer-extension projects going on
this year, including work on Olean Road and South Kendall
Avenue.

Township engineer Roy Pedersen said construction on Olean Road
is set to start May 16 under the direction of Duffy Inc. of
Smethport. Work on South Kendall Avenue, to be done by Cummins
Construction Co. of Bradford, will start May 8.

Phase II of the upcoming sewer extension project -ðout South
Kendall Avenue and through Rew, Pedersen said -ðhas been delayed
about six months due to DEP mandated mapping of the wetlands in the
area.

“There’s nothing we can do about it,” Pedersen said. “They (the
DEP) are cracking down on all projects.” He estimated construction
would not start until late in 2007 or early in 2008.

Construction on the Tuna Cross Road bridge will start in July,
Pedersen said, adding the project would not be completed until next
year.

During the public discussion portion of the meeting, South
Kendall Avenue resident Tom Perry voiced his concern that large
tractor-trailers carrying 30,000 pounds or more hauling oil back
and forth to and from New York state are causing damage to the
township roads in his neighborhood.

Perry suggested that in addition to the weight limit postings,
the supervisors see there are “no thru trucks” signs posted in his
area, too.

In other business, the supervisors accepted a lone bid from
Duffy Inc., for about 900 tons of R5-R7 sandstone rip rap (gravel)
at $26 per ton.

Once again, the supervisors dispelled rumors a Lowe’s home
improvement store would be opening in Foster Township. One resident
said he had been hearing rumors that Lowe’s would locate in the
township, and asked the supervisors if they were aware of such
movement.

“It’d be nice,” supervisor Cary Kaber quipped.

“We haven’t heard anything other than what everybody else is
hearing,” Wolcott said. “No one has come to us for any kind of
permit for building a Lowe’s.”

Slike reminded residents no open burning is permitted in Foster
Township without a permit. Burning in containers is allowed, he
said.

The next supervisors meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. June
5.