SHENANGO VALLEY Municipalities hire consultant to evaluate sewer systems

The study could help determine future sewer needs for the communities.
FARRELL, Pa. -- L. Robert Kimball Associates of Ebensburg, Pa., has been hired to study the sanitary sewer systems of the five Shenango Valley municipalities now studying consolidation.
The look at the systems and how they might be combined or jointly operated is one facet of exploring consolidation, but it is also an expensive proposition.
Kimball Associates will be paid $86,555 for the task.
The company submitted the best proposal for the job, according to the Shenango Valley Intergovernmental Study Committee, which recommended Kimball for the task.
Farrell City Council made it official Tuesday, voting to hire Kimball for the job.
Farrell, as the key grant recipient for the consolidation study, is required to approve all consulting contracts.
Funding: Mayor William Morocco noted that only $10,000 of the sewer study cost is in place at this time, with the Strimbu Foundation offering to pay up to that amount of money to cover the local share.
Morocco said Kimball, as part of its contract, will be required to find the rest of the funding through state or federal grants.
Local municipal officials have said that, even if consolidation does not occur, the sewer study could help the five communities deal with future needs.
Farrell, Sharon, Hermitage, Wheatland and Sharpsville are all part of the government study.