Letter to the Editor: Let’s Make Sure We 'Flush' Out the Right Group

The is not really a “local” problem. The trouble is not with the Peters Creek Sanitary Authority (PCSA)—the trouble seems to be the political nature of the DEP.

Many years ago, Peters Township wanted to promote growth and development, and agreed to a very lopsided agreement with the Clairton Municipal Authority (CMA)—where PCSA would pay a very large percentage (possibly upward of 60-65 percent) of the costs and operating expense of the CMA to allow this side of Peters Township to be serviced with sewers.

Since that time Mr. Sabo, and the other members of the PCSA, have not only watched the development of the different communities within their responsibility, but have made sure those areas have met all current and future requirements to build substantial systems to last for many years, and a system that would also limit the additional flow of rain water into the sanitary sewer.

Now, here is the predicament. The other communities (South Park, Clairton and Jefferson) have not been as careful and, in some cases, have not relayed correct information to the DEP regarding their "flow" realities.

This "inaccurate information" has lead to maxing out that CMA facility (they were maxed out prior to them trying to take fracking water—which that aged facility was not, I believe, capable of handling that material and which was finally stopped a few months ago by state or federal authorities) to earn themselves money.

PCSA had properly filed paperwork with the DEP (with the approval and authorization of all community members of the PCSA) to build its own plant, which would be able to meet all state and federal requirements. But because of political strings being pulled, the DEP will not provide them with the permission and permits to proceed to build the facility, but are trying to force them to continue to pay to CMA for their so-called services and, as demonstrated, their seemingly continued lack of honesty.

If the PCSA is allowed to build the plant that they have suggested, first—we would be able to break away from CMA and their outlandish levies against the PCSA, and most importantly the cost for providing sewer services in the future will remain low since they will be able to expand services into other areas of Peters, Nottingham and North Strabane without carrying the lion’s portion of the financial load for those areas between PT and Clairton.

The majority portion (as mentioned above) of the CMA’s projected repairs or construction would be greater than that of PCSA to build, and operate, its own new plant. And if the DEP gets its way, in the future the same problems would continue but at a much greater cost to the public here in Peters, Nottingham and North Strabane.

While this is not a new issue, this has become a concern and many of the builders in this system were able to purchase, and took advantage of being able to get tap permits about a year or two ago which many of them did.

I believe that this problem, as many seem to be in these days, is due to the lack of proper inspection and follow-up by these governing organizations and the lack of common sense demonstrated by them as far as what the future service means for the public. I, for one, am tired of seeing the government continue to raise their expenses in my household when they could have done a proper action to keep the cost down in the beginning.

While I feel is it the public’s right and duty to get involved in having an honest and responsive government, I do feel that when we have to make sure the target for that response or action must be delineated and all of the information should be put out there for the public to know, understanding who is at fault. In this case the PCSA is, and has been, doing the right thing for those that are serviced by them.

It is those that are paid through our tax dollars (DEP/CMA) that have again let us down and are currently causing the problems that are being brought upon us. It is the DEP who is slowing down the progress of our communities, and limiting the ability for individuals and companies to continue to provide jobs and services within our township and region. To those folks in Peters Township, this means paying much larger sewer bills in the future (400-600 percent more), but in Nottingham and North Strabane it means running the risk of not having the opportunity of being serviced by a sewer system.

Following the current path will certainly mean the lack of future development, and therefore the lack of new income for the communities being serviced through the loss of potential taxes brought into our communities through transfer taxes, additional property taxes and income taxes for these new owners.

Having others, within your communities, to share the ever-increasing expenses facing our localities through upcoming county reassessments, rising school and township taxes would be a positive step for all property owners. As expensive as these taxes can be, for those willing to move onto a lot not being serviced, the ever-creeping invasion into our lives by government and the regulations by organizations, such as DEP, will raise the costs for installing “approved” septic systems (when you try to build a home on an unserviced lot) could be as high as $40,000 per property.

So I advise to call the DEP in Pittsburgh and find out why it have made the wrong choice in this matter.

Support the PCSA in its quest to be able to provide constituents better service at a much more reasonable cost. It is time we are able to break away from the CMA system that is broke. 

-Bill Merrell, Peters Township resident and school board member