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LOCK HAVEN -- Customers within the city's water system won't be in the clear regarding potential drought conditions until the upgrades to Ohl Reservoir are completed.
This was the summary City Manager Gregory Wilson gave while updating Lock Haven City Council about drought conditions within the water system.
"The water system is still classified in 'Drought Warning' by DEP (Department of Environmental Protection), and customers are still being asked to reduce their individual water use by 10 to 15 percent -- which would be between six to nine gallons per day," Wilson said.
Wilson offered a simple solution for residents to help achieve this.
"A very easy way to do that is to capture the water you waste in your kitchen sink while you're waiting for it to get hot," Wilson said. "You capture that in a pitcher and that will likely fill your coffee maker twice. Doing that a couple times a day would create a 10-15 percent reduction."
Wilson cautioned water users, both in its system and Suburban Water Authority -- which uses the same source -- that just because the reservoirs are full doesn't mean the emergency has ended.
"However, in order to complete construction at Ohl as part of the EPA-required upgrades, Ohl's reservoir must be lowered by three feet," he said. "That still puts the water system in a vulnerable state."
Wilson noted DEP already approved the reduction at the reservoir for construction purposes.
"Until the construction is completed at Ohl and the reservoir refilled, the system remains at the mercy of future precipitation," he said.
Wilson also noted that, although the emergency connection of supplemental water wells was put on hold, the "city is prepared to continue with the operation of the wells if the need arises."
"The use of the wells as an emergency supply has been permitted by DEP through the middle of this year," he said. "The city is also preparing the application to DEP for the permanent use of the wells as part of the water."
The use of the supplemental water wells permanently was already in the city's plans prior to the drought emergency in 2023.
Mayor Joel Long asked where the city was on the hook up of that system.
"We stopped the process of the emergency hook up on the wells. But when do we see a permanent connection happening," Long asked.
Wilson said the permanent connection was engineered, noting a cost analysis by city engineer, Gwin Dobson & Foreman, showed a minor cost difference between pumping the water to the Central Clinton Water Filtration Plant or filtering it on site. He said during a meeting on Tuesday with other water system stakeholders it was decided to keep the original plan and send it to the filtration plant.
"That has been engineered and that'll be the plan going forward for temporary easements for emergency water supply. We have one outstanding for the wells; we have one outstanding for the land easement and another in negotiations," Wilson said. "The rest of the easements for the permanent solution need to be obtained. A lot of it will be in the public right-of-way on municipal streets but some of it will not."
Wilson noted the city will also be able to apply for a PennVEST loan in the fall for the permanent financing of the wells.
"We have temporary financing in place now. The city will not receive approval for a closing date for that loan until the PUC (Public Utility Commission) rate increase is approved," he said. That closing is expected to be in 2025.
In other business council:
USE REQUESTS
Council approved in a 4-2 vote the placement of three crosses in Triangle Park from March 23 to April 20 for Easter. According to Community Life Director Kasey Campbell, to ensure secular decorations are placed per state law, Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. will be placing Easter decorations in the park as well.
In that same motion council approved the placement of the Christian Flag underneath the American flag for Faith Month in April.
The requests were made by Bill Stankowicz, Richard Wallace and Swissdale United Methodist Church. The majority of the discussion regarding the requests centered around the Christian Flag placement.
Stankowicz told council he submitted the request so the flag could represent "the Christian community" during Faith Month.
City resident, Bre Reynolds, questioned Faith Month's origins, noting it originated from the national Concerned Women for America group.
According to Reynolds, the group has been classified as an anti-LGBTQ+ organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center and read a portion of text from its website.
"The LBGTQ community took June as 'Pride Month.' Each June, we just have to put up with it. But instead of being grouchy Christians and complaining, let's do something about it. Join Concerned Women for America as we make April 'Faith Month' - and raise your Christian flag in honor of faith and freedom," Reynolds read the quote from CWA CEO and President Penny Nance from its website.
Reynolds questioned if the placement of the flag could be considered non-inclusive.
Councilmember Steve Stevenson, who motioned to approve the requests, said he stood by his choice. He noted the city flies multiple flags during the year for different groups and this request is similar.
Councilmember Rick Conklin said he couldn't support the motion because of the flag, noting it could be considered offensive to other religions.
Councilmember Barb Masorti expressed the same feelings on the matter.
Ultimately, both requests were approved, with Councilmembers Stevenson, Heather Alexander, Jeff Brinker and Mayor Joel Long voting yes. Councilmember Tami Brannan was absent from Monday's meeting.
Council approved other request including:
-- Use of William T. Piper Memorial Airport for the Sentimental Journey to Cub Haven's annual Fly-In from June 18 to June 23. The request also included the use of Hangar 1 for the group's pancake breakfasts on May 5 and Sept. 22. Both will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
-- Use of Triangle Park for Child Abuse Awareness Week -- specifically for Pinwheels in the Park on April 13. According to the request, submitted by Brandi Bodle, 13-20 pinwheels will be placed in the park to bring awareness to child abuse in Clinton County.
-- Painting Pride flags before the stop bars on Grove and Vesper streets in June for Pride Month. The request was made, as in years past, by the Clinton County Pride Alliance. Brinker requested the flags be removed at the end of June, noting the request is only approved for that month. "We shouldn't be waiting for the salt to take it off in the winter," he said. Stevenson, who motioned to approve the request, said Public Works would need to be made aware of the removal.
-- Use of Memorial Park by Luna & Ha Wellness Studios for community yoga classes on June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8 and Oct. 6.
-- Use of Zindel Park for a small wedding ceremony on Sept. 28.