The Bradford City Water Authority received a green light for a major project from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in the form of a construction permit.
The permit is for the authority’s plan to install an additional transmission main — a redundant transmission main that is intended to prevent a water crisis should the current transmission main need repairs. The project is in response to a 2015 transmission main break that left thousands of authority customers without water for several days.
Executive Director Steve Disney reported at Wednesday’s authority meeting that the DEP approved the authority’s permit application and issued a finalized permit. He said the authority is working with Bankson Engineers on a request for funding, which must be submitted to PENNVEST by May 1.
In other news, the board approved bid awards for two upcoming projects. Bids for both were opened Tuesday, Disney said.
Mortimers Excavating Inc. of Pulaski submitted the lowest of three bids — $87,292 — for the replacement of eight gate valves in areas of the water system where employees have had a hard time securing an efficient shut down. Bankson Engineers Inc., the authority’s engineer, recommended that the board accept the bid.
Regarding a Gilbert Dam spillway pedestrian bridge project, Bob Cummins Construction Co. of Bradford submitted the lowest of three bids with $194,506. For the project, a pedestrian bridge that is 90 feet long and five feet wide is to be installed across the spillway of the Gilbert Reservoir, with pedestrian walkway modifications to the east and west and articulated concrete reinforcement blocking installation along both dam breastwork abutments. GAI Consultants, which is the authority’s project consultant, recommended the board accept the bid.
Another ongoing project is the 2019 timber inventory of watershed property.
Ken Kane, president of Generations Forestry, provided an update. Crews have done field work and are processing data for Compartments #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5, and are collecting data on Compartment #6.
Authority crews also continue to perform water main modifications at the Forman Street Bridge in anticipation of an upcoming bridge replacement. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is allowing a 75 percent reimbursement to the authority for all associated costs.
The authority heard an update on plans for two upcoming studies — a cost of service study and a tapping fee study.
Gannett Fleming completed a draft form of the proposed cost of service study and plan to review the document with the authority in May.
Regarding the tapping fee study, Bankson Engineers are reviewing documents on local water line tapping. The study will look at the basis and cost structure for the authority’s tapping fees, and, through the study, officials will look at connection fees; cost of water meters; cost to treat pump and store water; cost of water distribution; and special purpose items.
The board also adopted a resolution updating its inter-municipal agreement with Foster Township. The updates include current language, hook-up terms and conditions.
Chris Gibbons of Concord Public Financial Advisors made a presentation of the results from an authority bond auction Tuesday to refinance the 2014 bonds. The firm of Robert W. Baird offered the lowest rate of true interest of the 24 bids with a rate of 2.43 percent. Ben Reid from Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott LLC presented the borrowing resolution for adoption and answered questions.
The authority board authorized the refinancing of the bonds, and the authority will realize a net present value of savings of $201,492. The original 2014 series of water revenue bonds had an aggregate principal of $8,820,000 with a current remaining balance of $6,585,000.
