The regular meeting of the Middle Smithfield Township Municipal Authority was called to order on Thursday April 3, 2008 at 6:00 pm at the Schoonover Municipal Building. Perry M. Henley presiding.

 

Members present: Perry M. Henley, Jack O’Rourke, Fred May, Mickey Roth and Oscar Woerlein. Also present were Richard Deetz, Fred Courtright, Dave Scholtz, Robyn Pugh Michele Clewell, several township residents and interested parties.

 

Fred May made a motion to approve the March 19, 2008 minutes. Mickey Roth second the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

There were questions regarding The Derstine bill. The listed payables will be reviewed at the end of the meeting.

 

Solicitors Report

Richard Deetz reported that the Assignment and Assumption for US Home to HDD Land, LLC and release of the Lennar Corporation letter of credit should remain on the agenda as he is still working on them.

 

Richard Deetz reported that he received a letter from township solicitor Jennifer Ann Wise regarding the Connection Rights Ordinance. The Board of Supervisors set the public adoption for May 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm. Attorney Deetz stated that he would attend the meeting and also recommended that a representative from the Authority board should attend the meeting.

 

Richard Deetz reported that a letter was received from J. A. Snyder Entices regarding his tenant at Meadow Lake Plaza. Mr. Deetz stated that this is a situation where a property owner is renting to a laundromat and the owner is evicting the tenant. There was discussion regarding the tapping and user fees. Richard Deetz was directed to contact Attorney Jim Farreri, counsel for the owner and have a report for the next meeting.

 

Richard Deetz stated that he would like to have an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss the SWERP payable that is potential litigation, Maula vs. MSTMA litigation and real estate transaction.

 

Engineers Report

Fred Courtright reported that Dr. Browne of F.X. Browne, Inc. sent a letter to Kate Crowley of PA DEP requesting a meeting between the Authority, DEP and DRBC to discuss the STP expansion and the 537 Special Study. Dr. Browne stated that he will forward the information to the Authority when it becomes available.

 

There was discussion regarding the letter Dr. Browne sent to PA DEP with regard to the 537 Special Study Area. Jack O’Rourke made a motion requesting Fred Courtright notify Dr. Browne that the 2nd paragraph of his letter to Kate Crowley of PA DEP is unacceptable that the Authority minutes of March 19, 2008 stated the Municipal Authority unanimously wanted to insert an addendum to include the Pond Creek location in the township’s current 537 Special Study Area and his omission should be corrected. Mickey Roth second the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Courtright stated that he has contacted numerous vendors to prepare a cost estimate for a 250,000 and 500,000 gpd expansion. He stated that once the information is available it will be forwarded.

 

Fred Courtright presented a proposed letter to send to large tract property owners for either spray or drip irrigation. The Authority directed Mr. Courtright to send the letter with F. X. Browne’s signature.

 

Mr. Courtright stated that the sewer line extension survey work has been completed and the last bill from Boucher and James was corrected per the agreement. Mr. Courtright reminded the Authority that the extension from pump station #6 to the flea market is on hold.

 

Mr. Courtright stated that the Derstine Company has requested a payment for contract 7 and 8. Pump stations #1 and #2 is complete and there is still some work to complete on pump station #6. Mr. Courtright stated that The Derstine Company was very good to work with.

 

Mr. Courtright reported that The McElwee Group has requested a contractual extension for the Winona Lakes STP completion to December 9, 2008, as the delivery of the Kruger equipment is delayed. The Authority stated that they are going to delay making a decision for a time extension as this piece of equipment is not installed until late in the project but will monitor the progress and consider the request.  No action is required.

 

Mr. Courtright stated that the WaWa shop drawings for the grease traps and sewage pumping station meet the townships land development requirements.

 

There was discussion regarding the Met Ed sewage treatment plant payables. Dave Scholtz stated that he is monitoring the plant and has taken some preventative measures to lower the monthly bill. Mr. Scholtz also stated that the plant flow rates have increase 8% - 10 %. Mickey Roth requested that Dave Scholtz monitor the kilo watt hours for any fluctuation. Jack O’Rourke made a motion to pay the listed payables. Fred May second the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

 

  Winona 

  MSTMA 

 Total

 Check No.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allstate Septic

      450.00

       630.00

     1,080.00

3950

AT &T

 

         92.68

          92.68

3951

Boucher & James

 

     2,307.33

     2,307.33

3952

Carbtrol Corp

 

   10,956.06

   10,956.06

3953

Coyne Chemical

 

     2,245.00

     2,245.00

3954

Derstine Company

 

 243,200.00

  243,200.00

3955

Eastern Alarm

 

         45.00

          45.00

3956

The McElwee Group LLC

 17,100.00

 

   17,100.00

3957

 

Monroe Cty Recorder of Deeds

 

         20.50

          20.50

3958

Strand Pool Supply, LLP

 

     1,886.95

     1,886.95

3959

Verizon

 

       234.57

        234.57

3960

Waste Management

 

     2,432.04

     2,432.04

3961

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Bills

 17,550.00

 264,050.13

  281,600.13

 

 

 

Sewage Plant Operators Report

The Big Ridge sewer line cleaning was discussed. Mr. Scholtz stated that he will be present at the line cleaning and any member of the Authority is also welcome to attend.

 

Mr. Scholtz stated the PA DEP conducted an inspection of the pump stations and sewage treatment plant on March 26, 2008. Mr. Scholtz provided a copy of the DEP report for the record.

 

Accountant Report

Robyn Pugh stated that she and Tom Beckett are working on the Authority’s request to prepare a financial estimate on what the user fees would be for a $25 million/300,000 GPD expansion.

 

Old Business

The central sewer connections inspector was discussed at length. Jack O’Rourke stated that the inspector should be in house. The possibility of having the township SEO was discussed again. The general consensus was that the inspector for commercial inspections should have certain education and experience. After further discussion the Authority directed Fred Courtright to prepare a job description. No action was required.

 

New Business

Mickey Roth and Jack O’Rourke discussed a meeting they attended with Independent Energy Corp regarding waste energy. Mickey Roth stated that he would like to have Independent Energy Corp give a presentation for the Municipal Authority board. Mickey Roth stated that he will make the necessary contacts and report at a later date.

 

There was discussion regarding methane gas and if we could cap it. Dave Scholtz stated that our sewage treatment plant does not have methane gas. In order to have methane gas you must have an antirobic digester process and we have an aerobic digester process.

 

Mr. Scholtz stated that two carbon canisters have been installed at the main plant for odor control. He also stated that the odor is at the meter chamber and head works location, the odor is not coming from the tanks.

 

Dave Scholtz stated that he would look at the costs to cover other compartments at the STP to help elevate the odor. Perry M. Henley requested that Dave Scholtz obtain costs associated with covering some of the areas mentioned.

 

Ownership of private sewer lines is to remain on the agenda.

 

Citizens Comments

Al Decker asked if a grinder pump is required at the proposed Echo Lake Park pavilion. Fred Courtright stated that a grinder pump is required. Fred Courtright also explained the function of a grinder pump.

 

Jack O’Rourke made a motion to go into executive session at 7:40 pm to discuss litigation matters regarding Maula vs. MSTMA, potential litigation with SWERP and potential land acquisition. Mickey Roth second the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Fred May made a motion to reconvene the meeting at 8:45 pm. Mickey Roth second the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Michele Clewell reported that a representative from Turkey Hill came into the office requesting information on EDU’s.

 

There being no further business the meeting adjourned in regular order at 8:55 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Michele Clewell, Recording Secretary

MSTMA, April 3, 2008