SMETHPORT — In order to improve sanitary sewer services, the Keating Township Supervisors approved a resolution Wednesday authorizing their solicitor to commence filing of condemnation proceedings to obtain rights-of-way across several properties due to the failure of municipal efforts to thus far enter into voluntary agreements with the owners of the properties.

During the meeting, the supervisors noted the steps they have taken to obtain the rights-of-way, including home visits, and several meetings and letters from the township and engineering firm.

According to the resolution, at a public meeting of the supervisors, the properties “were identified and the public use to be served by the proposed acquisition of the rights-of-way, as well as the impact of the acquisition and public improvement was reviewed, debated, and discussed and/or opportunity to do so was provided to the Keating Township supervisors, and all other interested parties.”

The condemnation proceedings will proceed through the McKean County Court of Common Pleas.

In other news, John Stratton, speaking on behalf of the Keating Township Citizens Committee, read a prepared statement in which he said that in talks with “at least six reputable engineering firms that oversee the installation of municipal sewer systems all have cautioned us about the reliability and high maintenance costs of any pump system, such as grinder pumps, where those pumps are relatively new and unproven.

“Without exception, those firms have said that grinder pumps and short low pressure collection lines are a ‘tool’ that they sometimes need to use in special situations where a house or a group of houses are much lower than the only place a main collection line can be located.”

Stratton said he spoke recently with the lead engineer who designed and oversaw the construction of the Hamlin Township sewer project in the Lantz Corners area.

“We have followed the progress of that project in The Bradford Era over the past two years while the design for the 160 EDUs was made and the construction is now nearly complete,” Stratton said. “In contrast, our project has been in the design stage for nearly 10 years and still the construction is not even started.”

The Hamlin Township Supervisors, Stratton said, had the engineer clearly evaluate all reasonable alternatives, including the use of grinder pumps, using gravity collection with lift stations and installing their own treatment plant, as well as cooperating with nearby Mount Jewett, and “after clearly communicating the costs and pros and cons of each alternative systems to the residents and supervisors, they chose the best system to meet their needs.”

Stratton said only 17 grinder pumps are used for the 160 EDUs in Hamlin Township, and only because an existing low pressure force main had been installed in part of the area to serve an industrial plant.

“Rights-of-way were not an issue either, likely because the residents knew the chosen alternative was at a a reasonable cost and the best alternative for each resident,” according to Stratton.

Concluding his remarks, Stratton said, “We, too, as residents of Keating Township, should have been provided with a similarly well-designed and communicated sewer project.

“The Keating Township Citizens Committee again wants to clearly indicate that we have never been opposed to mandated water quality efforts in our township. Such efforts are necessary to preserve our land. We have only said that any project should be clearly justified and all alternative options evaluated with supporting data from unbiased sources.”

Stratton supplemented his statement with photos of grinder pumps that he said were installed two years ago in the Norwich Township sanitary sewer system and already have shown signs of leaking. No cause for the malfunction has been determined, said Stratton.

Just one bid was received for repairing less than a mile of East Valley Road, beginning at U.S. Route 6 and Route 46 in East Smethport. After deciding the bid of $55,612 from Glenn O. Hawbaker was a reasonable quote, the supervisors voted unanimously to accept it.

The project is similar to last year’s repairs on Droney Road. Funding will come from the township’s 2014 liquid fuels allocation of $10,114 and $40,049.60 from the Act 13 Unconventional Shale Drilling Impact Fee.

Also, Supervisor chairman Chris Chapman showed a copy of the township’s first-ever structure demolition permit that is available for a $5 fee.

Any demolition work authorized by the permit must be started within 90 days after being issued or the permit shall be canceled and the fee forfeited. The permit will become void if the demolition project is not completed within six months following commencement of the demolition, unless for cause shown, the time is extended by the supervisors.