DUBOIS – A new sewer tap fee was approved by the Sandy Township Supervisors during their regular meeting on Monday night.
The new fee had previously been voted down by the municipal authority Oct. 7, and was subsequently tabled at the supervisors’ meeting.
Some confusion arose at the previous meeting because the township currently has a tap fee of $1,380 for new connections to its sewer system.
But per its joint sewer service agreement with DuBois City, the township is also required to pay a tap fee of $1,626 per EDU for all new connections.
On Monday night, Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh explained how the tap fees were different. He said the township charged $1,300 for collection and the city $1,600 for treatment.
According to Arbaugh, the township is still under the average cost for similar-sized communities. The majority, he said, fall between $3,400 and $5,000 including DuBois City ($2,500).
Arbaugh added that DuBois City has been attempting to get Sandy Township to pay for the treatment of new taps for years. Now he said they’ve agreed to only have it apply to new structures.
He said owners of existing structures will only be required to pay the township’s $1,300 tap fee. However, owners of new structures will be required to pay $2,900.
The supervisors subsequently voted to increase the sewer tap fee for all new connection by $1,600.
Supervisor Jim Jeffers asked the building committee to research a question he had before the township’s next regular meeting.
More specifically, he asked whether or not DuBois City could legally participate in a regional government building that’s not located within its municipality.
Jeffers’ question arose because Supervisor Mark Sullivan indicated that the committee is interested in having the supervisors investigate a regionalized police force.
Jeffers said with the city becoming involved with the township’s municipal building project, it’s started to stretch out the construction timeline.
Jeffers said he wasn’t sure DuBois City could legally become involved for two reasons. First, he said the township is required to have its municipal building within its boundaries.
Secondly, he said the township can’t legally spend money on another municipality. He suggested once this question is answered, the building committee disband and reform early next year.
