|
In Brief . . .
Monterey Town Council
¦ The Monterey Town Council held its close-out meeting Thursday, June 26. Council members welcomed new town employee, Highland High School student Dustin Chapman. "We are hoping that we can train him and get him on board until he is through high school, at least," said Mayor Janice Warner.
¦ Town Clerk Nancy Hooke reported Maggie Cavell of the recreation commission paid the new connection fees of $11.25 for water and $11.25 for sewer for the public swimming pool. Council approved the motion for the connection, and Francis Fenn or operator Mike Isles will supervise the line installation.
¦ Warner delivered an update on the Preliminary Engineering Report for the waste treatment plant. Warner, Isle and Fenn met with Gary Phillips, west central area engineer of the Department of Environmental Quality, and Larry Simmons, DEQ deputy regional director. "We got off to a little bit of heated session, but things calmed down and Gary gave me the thumbs up and I really think we are on same page and all trying to do the same thing," Warner said. The DEQ wanted $2 million spent for more lines and laterals. Warner said she explained to DEQ that public money could not be used on private property. DEQ will change the consent order to require council seek state and federal money for lateral and line work, Warner said. County attorney Melissa Dowd expressed concern about the consent order. "The heaviest handed thing they can hang over your heads - that is a mixed metaphor if you have heard one - the strongest punishment they can hand you is a consent order, because that means if you don't do what the consent order says they can take you to court, and the judge can make you do it, and fine you," Dowd said. Council has shown consistent compliance, Dowd added. Warner said she is willing to accept a consent order because the council has been living under one already. Warner had expected the PER to arrive prior to the meeting, but now expects council will receive it by the end of August.
¦ Allegheny Power will replace 50 mercury streetlights with 100-watt, high-pressure sodium cobra lights by the end of the summer. The Environmental Protection Agency is requiring all mercury lights be replaced with sodium lights and Monterey is one of the first localities to have the replacements. The State Corporation Commission granted Allegheny Power an interim rate increase effective July 1 and the cost of the replacement streetlights will now be $ 10.71 per month, per fixture. The total cost for the sodium streetlights will now be a little more than $500.
|
