The Bradford Sanitary Authority continues to field stormwater questions and concerns, with more than 105 being responded to thus far.
Such requests have included assisting with impervious area assessments, property location and ownership, and billing questions, BSA executive director Rick Brocius announced during a meeting Nov. 15.
The stormwater fee was implemented this year. Single family home owners are charged $7.90 per month, and the owners of non-residential developed properties are charged $2.87 per one thousand square feet of impervious area.
“The authority encourages any non-residential property owners to submit the simple one-page appeal form, or call the Authority for help, if they feel that their fee is incorrect,” Brocius said. “The form is also available at the Kennedy Street office, or as a download from the BSA web site as Appendix C of the credit policy.”
Also, he reported that more than 7,500 linear feet of storm line has been cleaned, inspected, video recorded and digitally mapped. In the past month, six storm basins have been rebuilt, five basins were vacuumed out, and one section of collapsed line under the street was repaired.
“Inspecting, mapping, and condition assessments will continue to be a priority for known problem areas throughout the wet weather seasons,” he said. “Residents are welcome to provide BSA with information or photos of drainage problems that may be impacting their property. BSA is collecting this information, which it uses to prioritize, plan and budget for work to correct or improve these conditions as it has the means to do so.”
The meeting also involved the board accepting funding from Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for the Phase 3 wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
“It was noted that the project had many components to it that would serve to improve overall safety at the plant, improve plant operations with respect to maintaining compliance with its wastewater discharge requirements, and serve to reduce costs related to maintenance, utilities, energy, and sludge disposal,” Brocius said.
Funding for the project consists of a $2.35 million dollar grant and a $4.65 million dollar loan at 1 percent over 20 years. Also, reed bed technology is projected to save the authority an additional $2 million in sludge disposal costs over the life of the loan, further reducing the overall cost of the project.
“The authority will now move forward with the final design and bidding process with hopes of opening bids by early February of 2018,” Brocius said.
