DUBOIS – Sandy Township officials discussed water- and sewer-rated business at Monday night’s regular meeting.
Water and sewer Packets
Township Manager Dave Monella reported that necessary information has been received for the water and sewer packets.
They were being sent out locally Jan. 20 or Jan. 21 (at the latest) to the four entities interested in purchasing the township’s water and sewer systems.
Township Supervisor Dave Sylvis thanked Monella and Engineer Perry Bowser for their efforts on the process.
Water and sewer Bills
Sandy Township resident and local landlord, Barry Miller, approached the Sandy Township Supervisors and Sandy Township Municipal Authority Board about his water and sewage bills.
He pointed out a difference in water and sewage bills for Sandy Township and Treasure Lake properties, which were significantly higher in comparison to bills for his DuBois City properties.
Supervisor Jim Jeffers explained that it was due to changes the city made in billing the township, which is now based upon metered flow entering its system.
He also noted the township was being billed for non-sewage water entering the sewer systems.
According to Jeffers, the township receives bills from the city that range from $70,000 to $80,000 per month to up to $140,000 to $180,000 per month. For a while, the authority used reserve funds to cover the gap without raising rates for township customers.
However, while in the process of negotiating with DuBois City, he said the township’s reserve funds ran out. He said township officials had two options – go bankrupt or pass costs off.
Jeffers said it was among the reasons that Sandy Township was giving consideration to selling the municipal authority.
“We’re not water and sewer people. We do that as a service to our customers. We aren’t experts,” said Sylvis.
According to Sylvis, the companies would also have to answer to the Pennsylvania Utility Commission before they could raise rates. DuBois City wouldn’t need to, however.
Sylvis also said that township officials have been correcting the inflow and infiltration issues, and rates should begin to decrease for their customers.