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LOCK HAVEN -- The City of Lock Haven is open to joining talks about a Joint Municipal Authority with other water entities in the area.
Lock Haven City Council reviewed a letter from Greg Mayes, manager of Suburban Water Authority, regarding the potential for a Joint Municipal Authority to assist in future costs necessary for the water system.
"Water systems throughout the country are facing significant increases in rates due to more regulations and monitoring requirements, removal of lead piping, addressing "forever" PFAS contaminants and aging infrastructure," the letter from Mayes said. "Clinton County is no different and we are facing significant additional revenue needs which will require increased rates and therefore are considering options which would reduce costs."
Mayes's letter indicated one way to address these costs is through consolidation of the city and Suburban.
"Regionalization of utilities is the way of the future. In our case, DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) would look very favorably on such a consolidation of entities," Mayes's letter said. "There also should be a significant cost savings with such a merger."
Mayes's letter inquired whether or not the city would be interested in joining talks about a joint municipal authority.
Council member Barb Masorti spoke about a meeting between the city, Suburban Water, the Water Filtration Authority and the City Authority which led to further action regarding a possible joint authority.
"During our meeting with Suburban, the filtration authority and the city authority we discussed a lot of the options and what the bigger picture... looks like for the water system," Masorti said.
"Before we went any further and made additional movements towards actually getting this process going, and pursuing a joint authority, we wanted to make sure that all of the entities that are involved with this process were willing to move forward towards forming a joint authority," she said.
Masorti said it was agreed that each entity should express interest in the merger to avoid any one deciding it didn't want to take part following more work.
"This is really asking, does the City of Lock Haven agree that we, as a committee, will continue to work with Suburban, the filtration authority and the city authority to look to the future for the water system," Masorit said.
Masorti emphasized that this is only for exploring the option, not that the entities are going to enter into a Joint Municipal Authority anytime soon.
She noted the letter presented to council will also be distributed to the other entities that may be involved in the process.
Council unanimously voted to approve the city's involvement in potential Joint Municipal Authority talks in the future.
All members of council were present for Monday's meeting. Council's next meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m., in council chambers, 20 E. Church St., Lock Haven, and streamed live on the city's Facebook and YouTube pages.