The directors approved the minutes of the May meeting and the payroll and invoices. Expenses included $218 for a new credit card machine that will read embedded chip cards.
Multiple discussions have been held with the engineers and PennVest concerning the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade and to review various project scopes and financial scenarios. Consensus is that the Authority request additional loan funds (30 years at 1%) from PennVest in order that bids could be awarded to the apparent low bidders (General construction, Lobar, Inc. $9,208,000; Electrical, G R Noto, $923.000). The combined value of the bids exceeds the engineer's opinion of probable construction costs by $2,054.000. Certain components of the project will be investigated for deletion or modification to achieve cost reductions through change orders.
At tonight's meeting, the directors voted to accept bid extensions to July 24 (with no increase in costs) from Lobar and from G R Noto. The board also voted to execute notices of Intent to Award the Bids for Lobar and for G R Noto. The Notice of Intent allows the contractors to prepare their bonds in anticipation of the contract being awarded in July.
Also approved was a motion authorizing Uni-Tec to request a letter of no prejudice from PennVest on behalf of the Authority. A Letter of No Prejudice can be requested under emergency situations after the PennVest Board of Directors determine proposal funding. This request must be submitted before the Settlement process is completed.
None of the actions taken tonight firmly commit the Authority to the project. That would require additional action.
The board also voted to approve a legal services agreement with Rhoades & Simon of Harrisburg at a cost not to exceed $31,500. This firm has wide experience in closing agreements with PennVest. Mr. Landon said that he was very impressed with the firm and the service performed would be valuable. Mr. Zimmer said "It's cheap advice for what we have to go through."
Under the Solicitor's Report, a rental customer is challenging the "stormwater surcharge" on her bill. This is collected as a service for Canton Borough. The Authority will continue to bill the surcharge until the Borough changes its policy, as the Authority is merely acting as the Borough's agent.
The board voted to return security deposits to Robin Hammer, 38 E. Tioga Street, and Christopher Boggs, 706 N. Center St.
The Authority sold no bulk water to gas drillers in May. 420,000 gallons valued at $6,700, were sold to bulk haulers and 222,000 ($3,500) so far in June.
Three RBC units at the sewage treatment plant are in operation. Unit #1 is being disassembled to repair broken media supports.
A grinder pump at the Dave Warner property was dug and repaired. The effluent pipe broken where it attached to the pump body.
Two leaks in the pressure line from the Swayze lift station were repaired.
The drive chain on the secondary clarifier at the sewage treatment plant is being replaced.
So far the Authority has spent $1,045,556 on the wastewater plant upgrade project. $728,500 has been borrowed from the water side to fund the project to date and $158,073 from the sewer equipment replacement fund and $158,983 from general sewer funds.
The Authority received $600 in June from Bradford County Collections as restitution in the Brenda Mott case. This makes a total of $76,792.46 returned to the authority and leaves a balance due of $252,251.44 as per the civil suit agreement.
The Authority collected $2,180 in stormwater surcharges for Canton Borough in May.
The board engaged in a discussion of potential future sewage rates.