Shen. Sewer Authority seeks funding for sewer plant repair or replacement

By Kaylee Lindenmuth

SHENANDOAH – The Shenandoah Municipal Sewer Authority is applying for up to $18.8 Million in funding for improvements to or a replacement of its wastewater treatment plant west of Shenandoah.

The application was brought up at Wednesday’s meeting of the sewer authority, which will be filed with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service. It was noted that the funding could be a combination of grants and loans, though that wouldn’t be known until the RUS makes an offer following the application.

“We’re going to look for grants first?” asked authority member and Mayor Andrew Szczyglak.

“Yes, yes. That’s our main objective, because we don’t want to incur anymore debt,” said authority chairman Leo Pietkiewicz. “We’re not in a feasible position for that.”

According to Szczyglak, the authority is looking to either build a new plant or renovate the current plant, built 40 years ago.

“The first step is to see how much funding we can get before we make any commitment to doing anything,” said Szczyglak. “We’re not going to make a commitment to build a new plant if we don’t have any money to do it.”

In other business, the authority approved a recommendation to borough council to hire an employee for the sewer plant, with sewer authority member Ron Luscavage noting the plant currently has two employees working, when three are needed.

Borough council will receive the recommendation and vote at its next regular meeting.

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Kaylee Lindenmuth

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home.

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