The Bradford City Water Authority shared, during its regular board meeting Wednesday, the progress made in its lead abatement and water meters projects.
Since the authority’s last meeting, Mortimer’s Excavating completed service line inspections along South Avenue, leaving a limited number of follow-up inspections on School Street. Asphalt restoration is complete on Jackson Avenue, School Street, North Bennett Street and Cole Avenue. Sidewalk concrete restoration on Jackson and South avenues is expected to be complete by early November. Final paving on South Avenue is slated for spring 2024.
Further, the two-year maintenance bond and consent of surety was received to finalize the authority’s contract with Chivers Construction.
The authority held a meeting Oct. 19 to review its re-metering project, including analysis of funding, finance and vendor choices. An agreement with Johnson Controls to administer and implement the changeout of the authority’s 6,126 meters, the average age of which is 24 years. The agreement includes upgrades for an Advanced Metering Infrastructure meter reading system. The authority currently uses an automated meter reading, or “drive-by,” system that sends basic information to a vehicle radio. AMI systems collect detailed information sent directly to cloud software that is readily available to utility personnel.
In an update regarding the watershed, Ken Kane of Generations Forestry related Ram Forest Products’ soft maple harvest from a 2022 maple sale is ongoing. Site preparation to allow for regeneration on the Heffner Watershed is partially finished with some chipping still to complete. Additionally, big game hunting season is underway across the watershed.
Bankson Engineers’ capital improvements proposal and cost estimates for improvements to the water treatment plant are still pending.
The punch list of required items for Marilla Brook crossing is complete, including four shutoffs to meter pits on each side.
For the Route 219 8-inch main replacement, Mortimer’s construction is complete and IA Construction will perform final paving soon.
In new business, the authority approved writing off bad debt delinquencies for water service relating to several properties along West Washington Street. Currently owned by the Downtown Business Revitalization Corporation, the properties are slated for demolition as part of the Third Ward revitalization planned through the Neighborhood Partnership Program.
Further, Bankson Engineers completed the annual inspection of the authority’s three dams and will formulate reports for presentation to the authority and the Pennsylvania Department of Dam Safety.
