SEWER LINES New Castle council to borrow for repairs

Sanitation fees will increase in January to pay for the work.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Work on revamping the city's aging sewer lines will begin later this year.
City council agreed Thursday night to borrow $4 million in bonds to pay for the work. The sanitation fee is expected to increase in January to pay back the bond issue.
The fee will increase from $16 to $22 per month. There also is an increase in the overage charge for those using more water. That amount will increase from $1.65 per cubic yard to $2.18 per cubic yard.
Council members debated earlier this week over how they were going to pay for the sewer work.
Some council members wanted to apply for a Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority loan, which had a lower interest rate than a traditional bank loan.
Mayor's request
But Mayor Wayne Alexander asked council to consider the bond issue because applying for PENNVEST money is a long process that carries no funding guarantee. The next round of state funding for sewers won't be released until March.
Council President Christine Sands said council was not trying to delay the project but was only looking to save money for the taxpayers.
She did specify that any interest earned off the bond was to be used to help decrease user fees.
Steve Kramer of Baker Engineering said the firm would first like to fix some of the inlets, or manhole covers, where water and sewage are coming up during heavy rains. He thinks that work will be done this year.
The other work will require detailed engineering specifications before the sewer project can be put out for bid, he said.
cioffi@vindy.com