WESTERN PA. Borough asks water payment

Wilmington Township in Mercer County paid fees to get in the sewer system.
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Borough officials want a meeting with officials from Wilmington Township, Lawrence County, to try to reach an agreement on the cost for the township to tap into the borough's sewer system.
Council members reviewed a letter Monday in which the township is objecting to paying any tap-in fee to join the system.
Councilman John Altman said that because the borough built the system and has paid for its operation since its construction, "We would like them to make a contribution."
In 1977, the borough upgraded its sewer plant and, to secure a grant, agreed to supply the surrounding hydrological area with sewer service. The borough has been trying for years to reach an agreement with the township, but officials complained last night they have met with little response.
Mercer County
Wilmington Township, Mercer County, which is also in the hydrological area, has already connected to the borough's system and paid a connection fee. Altman said the law requires the borough to deal with both townships equally as far as tap-in charges.
Altman said after the meeting that the borough has made an effort to do what is fair and reasonable, including offering to help the township obtain funding for a connection fee.
The letter from the township came from Atty. Richard Harper of Jamison, Seltzer, Harper & amp; Williams, New Castle. In it, Harper stated that the Wilmington Township Sewer Authority believes the township should only pay "costs already established by the Borough for its own residents for treatment, transportation and capacity charges at the treatment facility."
Harper added that "most of the proposed charges and assessments" required by the borough "are not in accordance with the requirements of the Municipality Authorities Act with respect to tapping fees and related charges."
Also Monday, Thompson Electric Inc., Munroe Falls, Ohio, was the apparent low bidder, at $111,523, for new switch gear to upgrade the township's electrical supply system. Three other bids were received ranging up to $173,808. The bids were referred to engineers from AmpOhio, the borough's electric supplier, for review and a decision.