PENNSYLVANIA County officials tackle sewer, water issues

Commissioners propose a municipal services authority to oversee problems.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County officials say the cost of repairing the county's sewer and water woes goes beyond what any one community can afford.
But, they say, pooling resources might make it a little more palatable.
County officials and the Lawrence County Council of Governments are looking at creating a municipal services authority that can oversee sewer and waterline extension and replacement and possibly handle other county issues.
Everett Bleakney, COG president, said attorneys are now checking on its feasibility, and the authority could be in place as early as the end of 2002.
"It is something that would join our county forces together as far as being able to promote sewage lines in areas that need it and into new areas that would benefit economically," he said.
Malfunctioning sewer plants have been a problem in the southern end of the county while areas with more growth, such as Neshannock, still need the public sewer and water lines, he said.
Favorable feedback: Creating an authority, however, would ultimately be up to the county commissioners. No formal decisions have been made, but commissioners seem to favor the idea.
"A municipal authority could be a real tool and a real plus in Lawrence County," said Commissioner Roger DeCarbo.
DeCarbo, Commissioner Brian Burick and Bleakney recently visited Indiana County Municipal Authority. Lawrence County's authority could be modeled after that one, they say.
"There are enough similarities in the problems that we are facing that using them as role model could be a way to address the problems in Lawrence County," Burick said.
Two's better than one: Authorities representing more than one community often have an easier time attaining state and federal funding for work on things such as sewer and water lines, he said.
Some communities have had problems getting funding and it has hindered growth, officials say.
"We have very reasonable property taxes, and we have access to the airport on [Pa.] Route 60, Interstate 80 and the [Pennsylvania] turnpike. We are well-positioned. I would say the No. 1 thing holding us back from growth is the water and sewer issues," Burick said.
Bleakney adds that a municipal authority could solve other countywide issues. The COG has been talking about creating a countywide code enforcement office that could easily come under a municipal authority, he said.
Burick notes that an authority could allow member communities to share other services such as engineering and other things.