Nuangola project to hit milestone

NUANGOLA — The phase of the sewer project that eventually will connect the borough with the Mountain Top Area Joint System is about to begin Dan Loughran, project engineer for the Quad3 Group, announced at Monday night’s meeting of the sewer authority.

The Doli Co. is prepared to begin excavation work along Church Road for a main that will span Church Road into Blytheburn Road, he said. Doli’s work is phase two of the project; the Wexcon Co. already is engaged in phase one, the installation of pipeline and grinder pumps within the borough.

In accordance with Doli’s phase, Loughran said a finalized agreement with the Crestwood School District has been recorded. The agreement stipulates the installation of a pumping station on the grounds of Rice Elementary School in exchange for a tap-in connection for the school. Besides the school district, Loughran noted that a highway occupancy permit from Luzerne County, which had been in dispute for several months, also is in place.

In other business, the authority:

* Heard a report from solicitor Bob Gonos that an existing Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling confirms that a quorum existed when Sally DiRicci, secretary, participated in a January meeting via conference call from Florida.

* An incremental payment plan was approved for 95 residents to remit their $2,025 tap-in fee over 16 payments starting in March. It was stated payments will have to be by check, remitted to the authority at the borough building.

* Loughran also stated that Wexcon had to repair a septic tank on a property along Gay Ridge Road after it was damaged during excavation work.

* Ray Shirk, chairman, said Michael Angerson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that a recently hired administrative assistant, Diana Rollar, is not eligible to be compensated through grant money. Shirk said he is seeking further information from Angerson. In the meantime, he said, Rollar would be paid via a monthly office-space lease payment ($650) from Wexcon.