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MILL HALL -- Mill Hall Borough Council were updated on ongoing dam upgrades in Wayne and Greene townships.
The update came after the City of Lock Haven and Suburban Water Authority members met in an emergency meeting regarding low water levels at Ohl Reservoir in Greene Township.
Vincent Shay, of Suburban Water Authority, provided a summary of the situation that the city and Suburban -- which utilizes the reservoirs to serve its customers -- is dealing with.
According to Shay, Lock Haven City was ordered by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to make improvements to both of their reservoirs.
Currently, city hired contractors are continuing work extending Ohl's parapet walls and making mechanical improvements. This part of the project should be completed by January, Shay said.
It was previously reported by The Express that low water levels were reported after the city had to drain Ohl to conduct work on its walls. At the time, city staff expected the level to rise again but -- due to a lack of rain -- this did not happen.
Due to continued low water levels, Lock Haven Mayor Joel Long issued a Declaration of Emergency. The declaration includes the reduction of water consumption by 20 percent for all customers -- including Suburban customers.
Shay told borough council at the emergency meeting Monday, city council elected to utilize two wells in Wayne Township to supplement water while the reservoir returns to normal levels.
Shay said the water treatment plant puts out almost three million gallons a day. The two wells will give about 1.5 million a day.
In terms of the dam projects, Suburban Water's share of the project will be 40 percent of the $28 million, according to Shay. Since they use 40 percent of the water through the treatment plant, they're share will be the same.
"Suburban's share will be 40 percent of the $28 million. We had engineers do a cost study and a rate study," he said.
Last January, rates increased four percent. According to Shay, it was the first rate increase in about 20 years. However, with this project, they are looking to raise the rate roughly 20 percent. In 2026, they will have another three percent increase to cover the costs, Shay said.
"Why do we have to pay that? We being Suburban do not pay for water. The agreement was back when the filtration plant was built that we would share the cost. The cost is based on the amount of water used," Shay said.
The City of Lock Haven was asked about forming a joint authority by Suburban Water. Mill Hall Borough, if the time comes, would be partially responsible for voting on enacting a joint authority.
"We agreed to at least sit down with them, talk about it... Suburban can negotiate what the new authority will be like. Because you are one of the owners, the three owners of Suburban are going to have to give their approval. We as the members can't do that," Shay explained.
It is not set in stone whether or not a joint authority will be formed in the coming future.
In other business during Tuesday's meeting, council approved the open sale of paving project millings to borough residents only on Oct. 26, Oct. 27, Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 for $14 per ton.
Also approved was an open sale of paving project millings to the public starting on Nov. 7 at a set rate of $18 per ton.
The wage rates for all borough employees for 2024 was approved by council. The agenda item was amended, however, to support the wage increase for full-time Mill Hall Borough Police Officer Brian Burger. Council approved to increase Burger's wage to $27.14. The wage is based on other full-time regional police officer wages, according to Mill Hall Borough Police Chief Branden Coleman. He said the wage is higher compared to other local compensations based on part-time police.
"Last year I did the same exact thing based on local wages and I presented that... That is why the increase was given last year to get us up to where locally we were competitive and above the mark compared to other police departments that are full and part time. These numbers are high, higher than local. I am okay with $27.14 as long as the council can afford it," Coleman said.
Council approved the amended agenda to allow the wage increase for Burger.