EAST SMETHPORT — The Keating Township supervisors announced Wednesday that the municipality has been approved to receive $193,024.79 in three grants from the McKean County Conservation District’s Dirt and Gravel Road Program, which provides money to eliminate stream pollution generated by runoff and sediment from unpaved and low-volume roads.
This funding includes $51,150.58 and $87,409.21 for two sections of road buildup, as well as $54,465 for applying an aggregate surface to a section of Kent Hollow.
“This funding will certainly allow us to do other projects with our budget,” said Supervisor Chairman Dave McClain, as he thanked roadmaster David Vossler for his efforts in securing the grants. “This is a pretty big win.”
According to the letter from the conservation district, “The goal of this program is to implement long-term solutions to reduce stream pollution and maintenance costs for road-owning entities. At the core of the program is the implementation of “Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Practices; aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of local public roads, while simultaneously reduceing long-term maintenance costs.”
In another financial matter, supervisors, on a 2-0 vote — Richard Tanner was absent — approved the proposed 2018 budget, which amounts to $1,100,675.37. This tentative spending plan lists totals of $513,000 in the general fund, $204,322.37 in state aid and $383,353 in the sewer fund.
Beginning Monday, the proposed budget will be on display for 20 days at the township office, said Melissa Jo Smith, secretary-treasurer. Supervisors plan to officially adopt the budget at their December meeting.
Supervisors also approved $46,239.51 in payments for Phase III of the municipal wastewater treatment plant in Farmers Valley. This amounts to $300 to the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad of Lakeville, representing the first year of the railroad crossing annual rental fee, and $46,239.51 in interest to PNC Bank of Pittsburgh.
Supervisors discussed quotes that were received for building repairs. After some consideration, supervisors agreed to contact Urbatch Construction of Eldred for clarification on that company’s bid for doors. However, if that quote doesn’t meet the township’s requirements, then the supervisors will accept the bid of Hurd Construction of Bradford.
Supervisors deferred any action of windows.
In other business, the supervisors want to have a series of test borings at an industrial site in Farmers Valley for sampling analyses for the collection system at the Phase III wastewater treatment plant. The data from these borings, supervisors said, will help determine the intensity of a plume, which will assist in deciding how to make bores for the collection line through a contaminated area.
Supervisor Doug Covert reported on the Gifford Hollow project, which will involve replacing the existing bridge with an aluminum box culvert, the first of its type in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Engineering District 2.
“The preliminary engineering study has been done and the design phase is moving forward,” he said. “We anticipate going to bids in April for physical installation.”
Covert also informed the public about a malfunction of a mixer at the wastewater treatment plant in Cyclone. The part will be sent to an Erie company, where it is to be analyzed to determine the cost of repairs or whether a new part is needed at an approximate cost of $14,600. This particular part is submersible and has been underwater for 18 months.
The township closely monitors the operations at the plant, and the parameters are within acceptable ranges.
“Collections of data are taken at schedule times, it takes a while for any impact to be noticed,” Covert said.
Responding to a question from a resident, the supervisors said it would be very expensive to maintain an inventory of spare parts.
McClain agreed with Covert’s recommendation to initiate a network for township secretaries/treasurers, where these officials could communicate about grants, budgets and other common issues as they would share their knowledge and experience.
Smith will plan the meeting and set a date. Other municipal officers would be invited to attend.
Supervisors plan to meet November 14 to discuss blighted property ordinances.
Their next meeting for considering the public agenda will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 6.
