Local News
Sewage repairs on tap in Mercer
Council will vote on financing at Sept. 11 meeting
With a pre-construction meeting this week, and financing in the works, East Beaver Street in Mercer is on its way to being fixed.
The borough’s engineer and street supervisor, as well as Aqua Water – its public water service – and Rudzik Excavating met at length on Wednesday to discuss the project, said Debbie Scruci, borough secretary.
“They’re going to start as soon as possible.”
Rudzik was approved to fix East Beaver at council’s regular meeting on Aug. 14, where 10 bids were opened. Rudzik, of Struthers, Ohio, had the lowest bid for $423,213. The highest came in at $795,896.
Also approved was the advertisement of M&T; Bank, Altoona, to finance a general obligation note for $1 million, at 4.74 percent for 15 years for the borough to fix East Beaver, and replace a digester lid, chlorinating system and pump at the wastewater treatment plant. The plant upgrades will cost about the same as the East Beaver improvements.
The borough will also consolidate old debt for $219,000 with the $1 million, Scruci said. Council is expected to vote on the financing at its regular meeting on Sept. 11.
East Beaver’s problems came to light in April, when basements in two homes on the street became severely damaged with sewage backup after heavy rains.
Matthew and Melissa Ellis came before council with evidence that their basement’s damage on 560 E. Beaver originated from the borough’s main sewer line – not their lateral line, which connects from the main to the house – and the borough was responsible.
After hiring Insight Pipe, Harmony, to jet and videotape the 100-year-old, 6-inch clay sewer line in May, the borough found it had at least seven holes, including one in front of the Ellises’ home that had been breached by a gas line driven through it.
The water jet caused more sewage backup issues into one home, but the rope used to insert the video was left in the line by Insight for several days, causing additional homes to have backup issues after the rope balled up in the line.
The borough’s insurance paid about $30,000 in claims from East Beaver residents, Scruci said. Council waited to see how much it owed in claims before approving Insight for over $5,000 for its work at last month’s meeting, believing the company was partially responsible for the backup problems because it left the rope in the line.
Mercer’s insurance is covering the claims, but Scruci said the borough will ask Insight Pipe to reimburse additional expenses not paid by its insurance – like overtime to employees to remove the rope from the line.
East Beaver is slated for completion in October. While East Beaver is tore up, Aqua Water will replace its water lines, which it had planned to do next year.
“You may as well tie it all in,” said Kenneth “Ross” Vernon.
Other streets are getting attention in Mercer as well.
Council approved Shields Paving, Valencia, to pave portions of South, No Name, Short, Blackberry, Strawberry, Park and East Butler streets, contingent on the company stopping at $117,000, which the borough budgeted for streets. Shields submitted a bid for $130,435 to do the work.
Helping to man the borough’s streets will be a new part-time officer, Anthony Settle, whom council voted in. “I was impressed with him from the start,” said Jim Carnes, council vice-president.
The resignation of Eric Gatewood, whom Settle will replace, was also approved. “Thanks for your service to the community. You’ve been a fine officer,” Carnes added.
Council also took serious measures concerning properties.
It approved serving a 20-day notice to any homeowner with high grass, which is against the borough code. If the owner doesn’t comply, the borough will cut the grass and then put a lien on the person’s property.
Owners of vacant properties will be served compliance notices if their properties aren’t maintained, and the borough will file charges at the local magistrate’s office.
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