Washington Township's board of supervisors announced its intention on Thursday night to refinance the township's $11 million dollar sewer bond at a more favorable rate.  It is estimated refinancing will take approximately three to four months and that the new financing will save the sewer bond approximately $60,000 per year over the life of the 11-year bond. 

            That savings amounts to approximately $660,000.  The township considered seeking a bank loan, but bond refinancing over $10 million dollars would provide a more favorable rate than bank refinancing. 

            The supervisors agreed to extend the Nuvoda  pilot test program that is conducted at the sewer plant until March, 2021. The pilot test will determine if the sewer plant can be expanded without additional construction at the sewer plant.  Nuvoda has conducted the pilot test program for over a year with no charge to the township with the exception of some minor review fees by the township Sewer Engineer, Systems Design Engineering (SDS Engineering).

            Township Sewer Engineer Tom Unger, SDS Engineering, explained to the supervisors the township sewer plant is running close to capacity.  Unger noted that within five years the sewer plant might reach overload.  Currently, it is within 36 connections to reach hydronic overload.  Unger suggested the township get a policy in place concerning sewer connections.  He urged the supervisors to inform developers who intend to do construction in Washington Township of their policy. 

            In other sewer matters, a resident of Washington Township, who has lived in the township for 57 years, informed the supervisors that his septic system is failing.  The resident is over 1,200 feet from the closest sewer pump station located near Weinstiger Road.  The location of the resident's property is not within the township's sewer service area.  The closest pump station, at Weinstiger Road, has reached its capacity and cannot accept any more connections.  However, because the resident has a hardship and previously paid to reserve a connection to the pump station, the supervisors agreed to allow the resident to utilize the township right of way to construct a private sewer line that would run to the sewer pump station. 

            The cost to the resident to construct a private sewer line is approximately $55,000.  If, in the future, the capacity of the pump station is expanded, neighboring residences who need a connection to the private sewer line because their septic systems are failing, must reimburse their proportioned share to the resident who constructed the sewer line.  However, once another residence is connected to the private sewer line to access the pump station, a planning module must be created for additional connections.

            The supervisors agreed to remove dead and dying trees from the Gehringer Road open space tract at a cost not to exceed $4,000 to $5,000.  Supervisor Tom Powanda cautioned tree removal should be done while the ground is frozen. Otherwise, if it is done in the spring, mud will become a problem.

            The township will advertise bids for the full depth reclamation (FDR) of Moyer and Lane Roads.  The township has the capacity to pave the roads after the FDR is completed.  It is estimated the cost of the FDR to the two roads to be between $80,000 and $90,000.  In other road news, the township will contribute $23,055 for the repair of Ehst Road and Route 100. The total PennDOT estimate to repair flooding at the site is $76,500, including paving.  PennDOT will provide the labor, but expects the property owner to assume the cost of materials at approximately $63,400.  Township Chairman Dave Moyer, explained it is fair for the township to contribute one-third of the cost of the repairs because the flooding occurs in Washington Township and was partially created by activity in the township. Moyer stressed PennDOT must agree to maintain the improvements.  In the meantime, the property owner must expend a substantial amount of money to repair flooding on his property that he did not cause. 

            In a related matter, until repairs to Ehst Road and Route 100 are completed, the supervisors tabled discussion on the creation of a one-way on Ehst Road. 

            The supervisors tabled discussion until next month concerning credit card payments for bills owed to the township. 

            Chairman Moyer noted there are vacancies on township committees.  Moyer appealed to township residents to sign up for township committees.  Beverly Mudd was reappointed unanimously to the township Zoning Board. 

            Due to the continuing Covid 19 pandemic Washington Township municipal meetings will be conducted via Zoom. 

            The next Washington Township Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 25, at 7 p.m.