(8/20) Carroll Valley residents who use the public sewer system will likely experience rate increases in the near future.
Borough Manager Dave Hazlett told the council during August’s meeting that rates could increase 30 to 40 percent. The additional funds will be used to pay for the borough’s new sewage treatment plant, which will cost $5.315 million. The borough acquired a 1.743 percent, 20-year, loan through Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for the project, Hazlett said.
Hazlett said the current treatment plant, which was built in the 1960s, is "woefully out of date."
"The plant does not have any additional capacity at all. We have no ability to serve another home," Hazlett said. "At times when businesses are really busy, we take in more sewage than we are allowed. We have to expand."
The current plant serves more than 500 residences, several businesses, and nearly 100 holding tank customers, according to the borough’s website.
The council unanimously awarded a construction contract to Hickes Associates of Alexandria, Pa. for the plant. Council President Richard Mathews noted Hickes Associates’ bid was $1.3 million less than the second lowest bidder.
Hazlett said a variety of factors could reduce the anticipated rate hike.
Several residents have holding tanks on their property. Those residents spend "three or four times" more for care of the tanks than those who are connected to the public system, Hazlett said. If those residents connect to the system, they will save money and lessen the construction cost burden on current users.
"The more users, the less cost per user," Hazlett said.
The borough may also extend its sewer lines to Country Club Trail, Hazlett said. The cost of doing so would be relatively minor, Hazlett said, since the road is close to the plant. If those residents connect to the system, they will also lessen the burden on current users.
If a proposed housing development comes to fruition, the owners of those new homes could also lessen the cost per user.
"The trade off, of course, is those people will get a lot more neighbors," Hazlett said.
Hazlett said borough staff will continue to attempt to minimize the rate increase before presenting a formal proposal to council.
"This is a big project. It will have a negative effect on some folks but I assure you it is absolutely necessary," he said.
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