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LOCK HAVEN -- During a special meeting this week, Lock Haven City Council, Central Clinton County Water Filtration Authority and Suburban Water Authority settled on a final payment for the creation of two groundwater wells.
The wells were installed in Wayne Township as a supplemental source of water in the future, when Keller Reservoir is rebuilt to meet Department of Environmental Protection guidelines.
The two wells became a major point of discussion in recent months, as the entities moved forward with temporarily installing them in its system - due to low water levels at Ohl Reservoir caused by drought conditions.
During Monday's special meeting, members of city council and representatives from both authorities heard from filtration authority member Rich Marcinkavege, who asked that a discussion be held about payments for the groundwater wells along with Ohl and Keller improvements.
The financing for the projects came from a 2018C Borrowing Note and included the following breakdown:
-- $465,149.19 for Ohl improvements. That amount was paid off by the 2022 PennVEST borrowing to permanently finance Ohl.
-- $984,838.27 for Well improvements. That amount was paid off by the 2022B Note.
-- $186,751.25 for Keller.
Due to Keller improvements being the final portion of the project, PennVEST would not permit it to be included into its program, meaning it needed to be paid for out of pocket.
According to City Manager Greg Wilson, the city paid that cost out of its water fund.
"Subsequent work on Keller will be reimbursable through PennVEST, but not the $186,751.25 the city already had paid," Wilson said.
It was decided that cost would be split between the city and Suburban through the filtration authority - as the two entities utilize the water source.
On Monday night, Marcinkavege said the filtration authority was unsure how to budget the cost and requested a discussion be had.
"It's still apparent that there's poor communication. And you're considering a joint authority that would involve 11 municipalities. But we can't even get two entities to communicate," Marcinkavege said. "It's got to include face to face discussion, not just letters and emails."
That discussion was held immediately between Wilson and representatives of Suburban Water - board members Vincent Shay, Jr. and Jack Peters and Manager Greg Mayes.
Shay said Suburban Water is more than willing to pay its share of the cost.
"A letter was sent to council, and I hope it was shared with you, that Suburban would take part in all phases of the project," he said. "Now, we heard that it's being said that Suburban doesn't want to pay their bill. First off, you've got to have a bill to pay which we have not received."
Following an extensive back and forth between Wilson and the authority members, it was decided a bill for the amount owed by Suburban Water would be sent through the filtration authority.
"After Monday's joint water meeting, the city will be sending a request to the CCCWFA which Suburban's representatives assured at last evening's meeting would be reimbursed," Wilson said.