CLEARFIELD – After a brief executive session, the Lawrence Township Supervisors agreed to a modified payment of a fine issued to Clearfield Municipal Authority from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The CMA was fined $2,500 for a sanitary sewer overflow incident on March 14 from a sewage collection interceptor line. The CMA charged $2,000 of the fine to Lawrence Township, considered as its share of the fine due to infiltration of storm water from the township’s sewage collection lines.
Supervisor Chairman William Lawhead said the township’s share of the fine is disputed due to a leaking manhole on Robinson Avenue in Hyde, which is part of the CMA’s collection system.
Lawhead said the CMA had been advised of the leaking manhole several times, and the township had recently made temporary repairs to the manhole at a cost of $520.
Supervisor Ed Brown noted the manhole had been in need of repair for years. He said the supervisors do not dispute that the township collection lines have infiltration problems, but they believe the CMA lines are also contributing to the overflow problem. Brown added that the CMA has been very cooperative with the township in general.
The supervisors agreed to pay $1,480 of the fine, deducting the cost of the repairs to the manhole. A letter will also be sent to the authority requesting a timeline of when the defective manhole on Robinson Avenue will be repaired or replaced.
The supervisors also approved Change order No. 3 for the ongoing sewer line replacement project in the amount of $520, and pay estimate No. 12 for Diehl Contracting in the amount of $32,222.53 for the sewer project.
Code Enforcement Officer Debra Finkbeiner presented two conditional use zoning requests for consideration by the supervisors. Public hearings for the zoning requests were held prior to the regular township meeting, with no public comments for either.
The supervisors approved the conditional use zoning request for Bee Kind Winery to operate a temporary production facility at their location at 774 Carbon Mine Rd., Clearfield.
The supervisors approved the conditional use zoning request for Randy and Ruth Ann Rougeux to operate a Family Day Care at their residence on Robinson Avenue in Hyde.
Roadmaster Ron Woodling reported HRI Inc will begin paving for the township on June 10. Woodling said HRI was not able to provide a start date for the tar and chip paving.
Woodling also reported the township’s road crew has been working on mowing, preparing inlet risers in Country Club and Long Meadow in preparation for paving, and have started installing cross drains on Hemlock Hollow Road. He advises drivers to use caution in any road work zones.
Solicitor James Naddeo requested a brief executive session to discuss possible litigation issues. No action was taken on these items.