The Bradford Township Supervisors are taking steps to refurbish
the sewage system to accommodate a letter from the state
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The action, which was set in motion by the DEP for maintenance
purposes, spurred the supervisors to set a sewage reconstruction
plan for certain areas in the township by September.

Once a plan is set, public comment and county approval must be
in agreement to pass the mandatory resolution, which is scheduled
for early November.

Al Vanderpoel of E&M Engineers and Surveyors is working on
the sewage facility plan to develop a plan for the needs of the
township. He said “The DEP requires a current Act 537 sewage plan
to renovate about every 10 years … the intent is to correct sewage
problems.”

The funding for the work will limit the maintenance to the more
logical and problematic sewage areas like Minard Run Road,
Rutherford Run, Brown Town and Hedgehog Lane.

“There is a high density of houses and a high rate of sewer
system failing in those areas,” said Vanderpoel.

To comply with the DEP regulations, smoke testing is mandatory
to uncover sewer problems. The testing will be ongoing and
continue, if the weather complies.

“We had hoped that the city sewage plan would be done first, but
all of the districts are required to get it done at the same time,”
said Vanderpool. “With a little luck, we should be able to meet the
deadlines.”

In addition to the sewage resolution, no significant progress
has been made to alleviate the township’s recycling programs, and
code enforcement announced its intention to find the owners of
vacant structures that have been deemed dangerous and an
eyesore.

The structures are located on West Washington and West Corydon
streets and have been determined fit for demolition. To delay the
quarantine and eventual demolition, the owners of the structures
need to be rightfully notified before any action is completed.

A similar problem to this was recently mulled over by the
supervisors with the question of unsold properties in the area. The
same ordinance that was used as part of the solution in the
previous cases will be used to solve the current situation as long
as due process and proper notification is given, said Greg Henry,
township solicitor.

The next supervisors meeting will take place on Sept. 8.