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Local News Article

Bally Moves Forward With Sewer Upgrades, New Construction

Written by Mary Gibbs Kershner
2013-01-10

Bally borough officials announced Jan. 2 they are moving forward with several projects within the borough aimed at improving infrastructure.

Because Bally is a borough, council did not reorganize its officers at its regular meeting. The council president will continue to be Glenn Mutter, council vice president is Thomas Leister, and the mayor is Philip Ferrizzi.

The borough solicitor is Matt Doll and Systems Design is Bally’s engineer. The only new face in Bally will be Gilmore Associates as the borough’s alternate engineer. The borough will reorganize next year in January 2014.

Council discussed its sewer system. Recently, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) inspector checked the borough’s sewer system. The DEP inspector found Bally’s sewer system to be in good repair. The “monster” grinder at the sewer plant that mashes the effluent of the sewer system needs some new teeth. It has become clogged by sanitary wipes that are flushed through the sewer system. The borough will have the grinder rebuilt. It is expected the cost will be approximately $27,000.

Sewer plant employees soon will install a chlorination system at the sewer plant. When more effluent comes into the system after a heavy rain, the chlorination in the sewer system will rise to keep pace with the heavier flow.

The new borough garage planned for Cherry Street is almost ready to be submitted for bid. The borough must pay prevailing wage to the contractor who is awarded the bid to erect the garage. Doll explained the borough must choose the lowest “responsible” bidder for the project. Bally must use due diligence to determine if the contractor is capable of performing the work. The borough will not know the exact cost of the garage until the bids are submitted for the work. It is estimated the garage will cost approximately $250,000.

Recently, the borough completed the purchase of less than one acre of land located on Church Street in Washington Township. The land is adjacent to Bally Borough. The borough plans to erect a water tower on the site. Bids for the project will be advertised very shortly. The borough will require contractors to submit a bid bond and performance bond.

Doll explained a performance bond is necessary to ensure that if the contractor is unable to finish the project, the bonding company that insures the performance bond will complete the project.

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