The Chesapeake Bay Commission, an organization dedicated to cleansing waters that tributary into the Chesapeake Bay, may be key in Snyder Township’s quest to provide sewer service to 66 homes in Ironville, Tyrone Forge and Cook Hollow.
This morning, Snyder Township engineer William Gohn noted that a $100,000 grant application will be mailed this week to the organization, which will assist in the $1.6 million project that would extend sewer lines to 34 homes in Cook Hollow, 19 in Ironville and 13 in Tyrone Forge.
“The only thing that’s really holding us up,” said Gohn, an engineer with Engineering Architecture and Design Services in Altoona, “we still need some more funding to get this project going, but we’re actively pursuing funding sources in hopes of getting this project started as quickly as possible.”
He said EADS should know if the application is accepted no later than June 3.
In addition, the group is seeking funding in the form of a state Department of Community and Economic Development block grant. Gohn said if an income survey of homes in the area show that most are of low or moderate income, the state may be willing to extend up to a $500,000 grant to assist in the project costs.
“We’re still waiting for the responses to come in,” said Gohn. “As soon as we get all the responses and tabulate the results, we’ll know if the project is eligible for the funding.”
Currently, the project is being delayed strictly because of the lack of funding.
Also, Gohn updated the California Hollow project, which will soon bring sewage service to 14 homes in that area.
“If the weather holds out, everything, except for the pump station, should be finished this week,” said Gohn. “It’s all dependent on the weather, but by the way it looks, the extending of lines should be finished by the end of this week.”
Gohn said the project would not be completed without the help of the residents who will benefit from it. He said the tap-on fee to the system would cost customers $1,000 and rates would run about $36 each month.
All sewage collected through this extension would be pumped to the Tyrone Treatment Plant, which is operated by Northern Blair County Regional Sewer Authority.
