Sewer rates for customers of the Bradford Sanitary Authority will increase in 2017.
At Tuesday’s monthly meeting, the authority adopted a rate for next year of $32 per month per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) — $3 per month more than 2016 rates.
The bi-monthly rate is $64, or $6.40 per 1,000 gallons, an increase from $5.80 per 1,000 gallons in 2016.
The increase is expected to provide the authority with an extra $175,000 in revenue, according to treasurer Norm Strotman.
Strotman said the estimated revenue in 2017 will be $3,156,576, and the estimated expenses will be $3,159,372, leaving a deficit of $2,796. He explained the deficit was for the most part due to the fact the authority has started to pay back a PENNVEST loan this year, and 2017 will be the first full year of payments.
Authority Chairman Bob Douglas noted PENNVEST payments began in August this year.
The authority was “almost left with no choice but to raise the rate if we want to make the payments,” Strotman explained. He said the group will cover the loss with reserve funds.
Douglas announced the appointment of Strotman and authority member Bob Esch to the nominating committee for 2017 officers.
In other news, the authority voted in favor of having Brocius enter into a contract with HRG Engineering to work on the stormwater program for an amount not to exceed $25,000.
The authority is working with Bradford City officials to take over operation of its stormwater management system.
Brocius said HRG employees are now reviewing the rate study analysis. Within the first quarter of 2017, they plan to hold stakeholder meetings, complete the credit policy and prepare to bill for the service of stormwater management.
Regarding the sewer collection system rehab project, engineer Jack Rae said contractor Continental Construction finished the pipe work and are working on the boundary meters. They will come back in the spring to finish paving due to the weather.
Rae noted the rehab project included a lot of work on Walker Avenue, including the relocation of three pipes that ran under houses.
Brocius said about $735,000 of the money allotted for the project has been spent on collection system improvements and inflow and infiltration (I&I) reduction.
Rae indicated the contractor is looking at this point to spend around $100,000 less on the project as a whole than expected.
Several authority members praised the work of Continental, and Douglas noted the savings would be more than 10 percent of the bid, if the final numbers worked that way. “That’s great,” he said.
In January, a chlorine safety training will be held with speaker, McKean County Emergency Management Director Andrew Johnson, who is also with the Port Allegany Fire Department, said Brocius. Johnson will talk about the recent chlorine leak in Port Allegany.
In addition to the Bradford Sanitary Authority, the Bradford City Water Authority and local firefighters will attend.
Rae said they are still trying to close out the Phase II portion of the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant, though he noted there’s “not a whole lot new” since last month’s meeting.
Rae said he will send out a punch list today to the project contractors related to the warranty inspection, which he noted is different that the punch list for substantial completion.
As part of upcoming Phase III work, the authority is considering a new sludge dewatering process, changing the sand beds to reed beds. Rae said they will not need to remove as much sand from the beds as he thought they would last month. He noted, “It could be the type of project to get recognition from environmental groups.”
The reed bed plan will be added to a 537 special study, which needs to be finalized and published for public comment, Rae said.
They will miss an April meeting for PENNVEST funding for Phase III, but Rae said attendance at the July meeting is “very achievable.”
Brocius noted in the meeting that the Bradford Sanitary Authority assisted the Bradford City Water Authority at the scene of a water main break over the weekend.
Brocius also indicated the authority was considering developing a website, and staff members recently attended a website seminar.
Authority administrative staff will host presentations today on new billing and accounting software programs, too, Brocius said.
