Ron Orris will remain the chairman of the Bradford City Water Authority in 2018 after members conducted election of officers Wednesday.
Board member Bob Douglas was reappointed for another five-year term. Officers for 2018 are Thomas Arrowsmith, vice chairman; Richard Luther, treasurer; Terry Lopus, assistant secretary/treasurer; and Douglas, assistant treasurer/secretary.
Luther was honored for 35 years of service to the board, and Arrowsmith was honored for 10 years of service.
On the personnel committee are Orris and Lopus; the finance committee, Orris, Arrowsmith, Douglas and Luther; and the land resources committee, Orris, Arrowsmith, Douglas and Luther.
The authority also approved the submission of grant applications to the PA Small Water and Sewer Grant Program for two upcoming projects: a water service extension to a portion of the Kenmar Acres area and a new pumping station to supply the area of South Kendall Avenue.
The authority is seeking a $422,110 grant to extend water service to part of the lower Kenmar Acres, including part of Bolivar Drive. Current service ends after the Colonial Heights area.
A $418,880 grant is being sought for a pumping stations that would supply the South Kendall area, including the Lafferty Hollow Industrial Park.
“If this grant is successful, it would greatly benefit the Industrial Park and South Kendall areas with both increased consistent pressure and fire flow capacity,” the authority reported.
Both grants would require a 15-percent match of funds by the authority.
Steve Disney, executive director of the authority, reported on a water rescue training that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission held for the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department.
All three of the authority’s water reservoirs are in the fire department’s jurisdiction.
Following a recommendation that emergency personnel have specialized water rescue equipment available, the board approved the purchase of $1,600 in water rescue equipment for the fire department.
Bankson Engineers provided to the authority the final copies of the annual dams inspection, which was conducted in the fall. The gabion basket section downstream of the Marilla spillway needs repaired, as several baskets have come dislodged due to heavy water flows. Disney said the plans for the repair are being drafted and expects the project to go to bid within two weeks.
“All other areas of the dams are reported in good condition with no apparent problems,” he stated.
Disney reported that bids were opened Tuesday at the water authority office for a 2003 Chevrolet C-6500 dump truck. The authority accepted a bid from Belser Hale Inc. of Bradford for $8,199.79, which was the highest of six bids.
