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Storm water upgrades ready for Main Street in Lavelle
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FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The Butler Township Board of Supervisors tentatively approved a bid to upgrade the storm water drainage system along Main Street in the village of Lavelle at Tuesday’s meeting.
Dallago’s Backhoe Service Inc., Minersville, submitted the low bid of $34,653.30 for the work. There were seven other bids submitted, ranging from $36,085 to $57,500.
The township consulting engineer, William P. Anders of Lehigh Engineering, LCC, of Pottsville, said the supervisors decided to do the work at this time since other construction work was being done in the area.
“Basically, a couple of months ago new water lines were put in and the township felt that it would also be a good time to update the storm water infrastructure,” said Anders.
Anders explained the upgrade will include seven new catch basins and an additional lateral line.
The supervisors approved the bid pending a satisfactory review of the bid documents from Dallago’s by Anders and township solicitor Christopher Riedlinger.
In another storm water drainage matter, Anders reported that a review of the problems at Laurel Street at Fountain Springs has been done, with options presented to the supervisors. Residents in the area have attended recent meetings to complain about storm water problems that have apparently increased due to timbering on the nearby mountain.
According to Anders, one option is to resurface the road in order to provide positive drainage to the existing catch basins along the north side of the road. The cost estimate for this work ranges from $30,000 to $50,000. Anders noted the estimates are conservative, considering that the cost of liquid asphalt has recently increased about 100 percent.
Anders added that the road surface upgrade does not include upgrading the existing storm water infrastructure, explaining that the size of the existing pipes are designed for storm events of a typical two-year storm.
The second option includes upgrading the storm water infrastructure, which would add between $60,000 to $80,000 to the cost and involve permitting by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to connect to the existing storm water system along state Route 61.
A third option would have the township road crew construct a swale in the township’s right of way along the rear of the Malarkey property into an existing swale located between the Malarkey and Thomas properties, which would require an easement from the property owners.
Supervisor Chairman Kevin Kowalick asked grant consultant Ron Dillman of ProDesign Plus, P.C. of Frackville if there are any grant funds available to do the work. Dillman said there is nothing available at this time, adding that an income survey of the area would be needed to determine eligibility for grant funds.
“Most of the grant programs that we have been put into the daycare center,” said Dillman. “We can certainly survey Laurel Street and see if they meet the low- and moderate-income status for the 2009 program.”
After listening to the complaints from the local residents, Kowalick gave Dillman authorization to begin the income survey to get the process moving in alleviating the water problems.
Anders also reported on storm water drainage problems along Germanville Road from the Walter J. Tedrick Jr. property. Anders requested that the Schuylkill Conservation District inspect the site as a followup to his own inspections and discussions with Tedrick on possible solutions. The water drainage problem apparently began after two drain system outlets were installed in 2006 on the property at the time an inground swimming pool was constructed. In a letter to Tedrick, Anders notes that the discharge from the pipes occurs during significant storm events that happen a few times a year.
Dallago’s Backhoe Service Inc., Minersville, submitted the low bid of $34,653.30 for the work. There were seven other bids submitted, ranging from $36,085 to $57,500.
The township consulting engineer, William P. Anders of Lehigh Engineering, LCC, of Pottsville, said the supervisors decided to do the work at this time since other construction work was being done in the area.
“Basically, a couple of months ago new water lines were put in and the township felt that it would also be a good time to update the storm water infrastructure,” said Anders.
Anders explained the upgrade will include seven new catch basins and an additional lateral line.
The supervisors approved the bid pending a satisfactory review of the bid documents from Dallago’s by Anders and township solicitor Christopher Riedlinger.
In another storm water drainage matter, Anders reported that a review of the problems at Laurel Street at Fountain Springs has been done, with options presented to the supervisors. Residents in the area have attended recent meetings to complain about storm water problems that have apparently increased due to timbering on the nearby mountain.
According to Anders, one option is to resurface the road in order to provide positive drainage to the existing catch basins along the north side of the road. The cost estimate for this work ranges from $30,000 to $50,000. Anders noted the estimates are conservative, considering that the cost of liquid asphalt has recently increased about 100 percent.
Anders added that the road surface upgrade does not include upgrading the existing storm water infrastructure, explaining that the size of the existing pipes are designed for storm events of a typical two-year storm.
The second option includes upgrading the storm water infrastructure, which would add between $60,000 to $80,000 to the cost and involve permitting by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to connect to the existing storm water system along state Route 61.
A third option would have the township road crew construct a swale in the township’s right of way along the rear of the Malarkey property into an existing swale located between the Malarkey and Thomas properties, which would require an easement from the property owners.
Supervisor Chairman Kevin Kowalick asked grant consultant Ron Dillman of ProDesign Plus, P.C. of Frackville if there are any grant funds available to do the work. Dillman said there is nothing available at this time, adding that an income survey of the area would be needed to determine eligibility for grant funds.
“Most of the grant programs that we have been put into the daycare center,” said Dillman. “We can certainly survey Laurel Street and see if they meet the low- and moderate-income status for the 2009 program.”
After listening to the complaints from the local residents, Kowalick gave Dillman authorization to begin the income survey to get the process moving in alleviating the water problems.
Anders also reported on storm water drainage problems along Germanville Road from the Walter J. Tedrick Jr. property. Anders requested that the Schuylkill Conservation District inspect the site as a followup to his own inspections and discussions with Tedrick on possible solutions. The water drainage problem apparently began after two drain system outlets were installed in 2006 on the property at the time an inground swimming pool was constructed. In a letter to Tedrick, Anders notes that the discharge from the pipes occurs during significant storm events that happen a few times a year.
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