LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven City Council continues to work towards the potential formation of Joint Municipal Authority with other area entities.

During its lone February meeting, council passed a resolution, authorizing legal action for the transfer of the water system — currently held by the Lock Haven City Authority — to the city “if necessary.”

In November, council passed a resolution requesting the city authority, which operates separately from city government, to transfer its assets to the city within 30 days which has not taken place. Assets under the authority’s purview include both Keller Reservoir in Wayne Township and Ohl Reservoir in Greene Township.

Wilson said the resolution was drafted following discussion with the city’s attorneys. He noted the legal action would only be needed “if necessary.”

Council Member Steve Stevenson asked if the city can still authorize payments for certain bills, requested by the authority, while it waits for the transfer.

Wilson said the bills could still be authorized.

Council Member Barbara Masorti — who serves on a subcommittee dedicated to talks about the formation of a Joint Municipal Authority with the authority, the Clinton Central Water Filtration Authority and Suburban Water Authority — said the delay could be due, in part, to difficulties in meeting with authority members.

“January is a really hard month to meet with people. It’s hard to find a time to get together and meet with them. But we do want to,” she said.

Masorti stressed the nature of the resolution was strictly a precaution.

“We’re going to try to meet with them, try to talk with them and get committees together,” she said. She noted she spoke with city authority board member Rich Marcinkevage recently who indicated an intention to meet.

Stevenson said the delay in turning over ownership of the city’s water system can cause further roadblocks on the road to building the joint authority.

“It would be better (to meet) because the rest of it is all delaying action. Which is what we avoided by passing (a resolution) in November. Now here it is, February. So they need to quit dragging their feet and get this done,” he said.

Transferring assets from the authority to the city is one step needed in the continued efforts to form a Joint Municipal Authority in the region, which council committed to heavily considering in early 2024.

Talks about forming a joint authority began in January 2024 when it became apparent the costs associated with maintaining the water system — including DEP required upgrades to the city’s two reservoirs, Keller and Ohl reservoirs — would be difficult to maintain individually.

After a suggestion made by Suburban Water Authority Manager Greg Mayes, council agreed to explore the option and has been doing so ever since.

In April, council was presented with a letter of intent drafted by representatives from each entity which laid out what would be expected of each to ensure the work ended to prepare a Joint Municipal Authority wouldn’t be in vain.

During those discussions, Wilson said the city’s overall assets regarding the water system are valued at about $1.9 million, based on an assessment by its insurance company completed in 2023.

Those assets included limited infrastructure, such as the Castanea and Cummings Village tanks; meter pits; vehicles; stop pipes, meters, shovels, picks, fitting, leak detection equipment and more.

The one liability the city has, Wilson said, is its 2021 A borrowing note which, with interest, is valued at $528,000 as of Dec. 31, 2023.

The bulk of the system’s water system is in the authority’s hands until it is moved over.