HERMITAGE Sewer fees stay the same despite continuing project

Sewer fee increases that took effect Jan. 1 will cover the expense.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- City commissioners are expected to go along with a plan for a $22.5 million expansion/improvement project at the Sharon sewage treatment plant, a move that will cost the city about $1 million.
However, Hermitage residents won't see any change in their sewer fees to pay the cost.
City Manager Gary Hinkson said sewer fee increases approved last fall took this project into account and will provide sufficient revenue to cover Hermitage's share of the Sharon work.
Hermitage is part of the Upper Shenango Valley Water Pollution Control Authority (along with Sharpsville and South Pymatuning Township), which sends its sewage to Sharon for treatment.
Only a small portion of Hermitage west of the Shenango River known as Patagonia is served by the authority's lines. The rest of the city is served by Hermitage's own treatment plant or by on-lot septic systems.
Dividing the cost
Sharon is under a mandate from the state to improve and expand its treatment plant from a capacity of 4.5 million gallons per day to 8.66 million gallons per day.
The Upper Shenango authority will be required to pay about $7 million of that cost, Hinkson said, telling city commissioners Thursday that they must approve the plan by July 31 or face state fines of $200 a day.
Sharpsville, which is the largest part of the authority, will have to pick up about $4.6 million of the cost and has already approved the plan.
Hermitage and South Pymatuning will share the remaining cost, and Hinkson said the issue will be on the commissioner's agenda for its regular meeting July 30.
South Pymatuning has yet to vote on the issue.
The authority's approval of the plan includes a couple of conditions, Hinkson said, noting that the authority wants a joint municipal committee set up to help select an engineer for the project and to oversee the actual construction.
Hermitage will support those conditions, he said.
Commissioners increased sewer fees nearly a year ago in anticipation of this project and about $13 million in improvements to its own sanitary system.
Residents saw their fees rise from $66 to $84 a quarter Jan. 1. The fees go to $90 on Jan. 1, 2004, and $95 on Jan. 1, 2005.