Officials hope to have deal for selling sewer lines

SHARON, Pa. -- By late next month, Sharon officials hope to have an agreement in place to sell the city's sewer lines and lease its sewage treatment plant to Aqua Pennsylvania.
City council agreed to begin negotiations recently. According to Council President Fred Hoffman, they intend to work out the terms of the lease, which will include a yearly management fee to the city, as well as lump sum payment for the sewer lines.
The initial offer from Aqua was for $2.53 million, he said.
The city will be responsible for necessary upgrades to the sewage plant, but Aqua will likely make payments on a government loan paying for the work, he added.
In addition to infusing the city with cash, the deal would also take 15 employees off the payroll, he said. The city may retain one or two employees to maintain storm sewer lines, he said.