COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township is on board with the joint sewer authority for a $17.6 million loan, but doesn't want to charge a fee to guarantee it.
At its meeting Thursday night, the Coal Township Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a low-interest loan guarantee for the Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority.
The authority asked both Coal Township and Shamokin City to guarantee a $17.6 million federal loan. If one or both entities deny the authority's request, the low-interest loan offer by U.S. Department of Agriculture will be rescinded.
The loan would be used to fund the expansion and upgrade of the authority's sewer plant, the latest phase of a federally mandated sewer-stormwater separation project.
The project is not an option, and the authority must bring the sewer system into compliance with federal standards to reduce the amount of pollutants reaching the Chesapeake Bay.
If the federal loan is not guaranteed by the city and township and the authority enters the bond market, customers' monthly bills could increase an additional $4 to $6.25, according to the letter.
A $19.50 rate hike was enacted Oct. 1, which brought the monthly sewer bill to $49.50.
At their workshop Wednesday evening, Shamokin City Council discussed the idea of having a fee paid to them in order to guarantee the loan, similar to the franchise fee paid by Service Electric, which generates money to the municipalities.
After the guaranty was approved, board chairman Craig Fetterman with the approval of the board, directed that a letter be sent to the authority and the city that the township wants no part of any such fee.
"We don't want to see any costs added on against our residents," Fetterman said.
In other business
The board approved an ordinance that would amend the township code to prohibit utility trailers and tow dollies as vehicles from being parked on Coal Township streets between Sept. 15 and April 15 or for more than 72 hours during the rest of the year.
"We are doing this to help our street department and emergency vehicles get around with no problems," commissioner Gene Welsh said.
Several ordinances approved to be advertised addressed farm and wild animals being kept in the township, allowing the code enforcement officer to write tickets for violations rather than filing through district court, rental inspections and an amendment to the zoning ordinance concerning accessory structures and deck lengths.
The ordinances are expected to be passed at the March meeting.
Wall of Shame
Two properties were added to the township's Wall of Shame. The first is the former St. Stephen's School building at 910 W. Chestnut St., owned by Thomas Valeiko, of 37 Florida Ave., Commack, N.Y. A phone number associated with this owner is (631) 521-5630. Numerous citations have been filed against Valeiki since 2007 of which the most recent was filed Dec. 20.
The other property is at 914 W. Pine St., which is owned by Ricky E. and Marcella J. Walter. On Oct. 31, notices were sent to the owners. Because the owners did not correct the issues, citations were filed. The couple failed to respond, and warrants have been issued. Ricky Walter's address is listed as 314 N. Rock St., Shamokin, and Marcella Walter's address is listed as 872 W. Pine St., Coal Township.
This is the couple's second appearance on the wall; they also own a former Brady school.