COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township commissioners have voted to advertise a revamped ordinance proposal for street excavations that, if approved, would still greatly impact utility companies.
If an aggregate minimum of 10 percent of one township block is disturbed over a 12-month period, those responsible would be required to resurface the entire road between intersections.
That cost would be shared by more than one entity if they dig up roadway in the same area. For example, if a gas company were to dig up 8 percent on one block and a water company 4 percent, each utility's share of the repaving cost would be proportionate to the amount of roadway they disturbed.
A prior version of the proposed ordinance simply required 10 percent disturbance and lacked language for aggregation or time frame. Commissioners believed it allowed too much wiggle room to bypass the proposed regulation and tabled it last month for revision. The revamped version was approved at their meeting on Thursday.
Current ordinance mandates roadway resurfacing when 33 percent of a township block is disturbed.
The Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority is currently under federal mandate to overhaul its system in an effort to reduce pollutants from reaching the Chesapeake Bay via the Susquehanna River. The plan was to install brand new sewer lines throughout its territory. However, since Coal Township announced its intent to adopt the excavating ordinance, the sewer authority is considering alternatives.
The excavating requirements would increase costs on a plan that already estimated to cost $161 million. The authority is considering building satellite treatment plants along area creeks to treat sewer water that currently overflows into waterways during heavy rainfall.
There is a catch: The alternative would lower initial installation costs but would increase long-term maintenance costs.
A representative for Aqua PA declined comment on the proposal until the company had an opportunity to review it. Commissioners had indicated the company's displeasure when the topic was broached two months ago.
PPL Electric had also not reviewed the proposal. However, according to a company representative, "When PPL Electric Utilities installs equipment or makes repairs in a right of way, we already take care of the repairs."
A request for comment from UGI Utilities was not returned.
Also on Thursday, commissioners:
- Voted to advertise adopting an ordinance to reduce the required height of fencing surrounding swimming pools from 6 feet to 4 feet, bringing township code in line with the Uniform Construction Code.
- Hired Gregory Snyder as a part-time laborer at the township recycling center. Snyder will be paid $8.84 an hour for between five and 10 hours a week. The hours were reappropriated from current employees.
- Acknowledged a request from Brady Fire Co. that the township use Community Development Block Grant funding to assist in moving a war memorial from the former Brady school building to the fire company. Rob Slaby, township manager, said he is reviewing the request.
- Named Slaby as the chief administrative officer of the uniform and non-uniform pension plans.
- Said enforcement of township codes regulating high grass and household garbage would increase in the coming months.
- Reappointed Kitty Klebasko to the Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library Board.
- Reminded citizens that yard waste will be picked up between May 20 and June 7. Leaves must be bagged. Felled trees will not be collected.
- Approved the township VFW to hold a flag retirement ceremony at 6 p.m. June 13 at the municipal building.
- Announced a public hearing for 7:15 p.m. June 13 for the preparation of a HOME grant application.