Shenandoah to receive $5.4 Million grant for sewer plant replacement

By Kaylee Lindenmuth

SHENANDOAH – The Borough of Shenandoah is one step closer to replacing its aging sewer plant near William Penn.

Announced and approved at Thursday, August 13’s meeting of the Shenandoah Sewer Authority was a $5,474,000 grant. and $12,532,000 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service.The loan comes with a term of 40 years, at a fixed rate of 2.3750%.

“That’s outstanding news. In this day and age, to be able to get almost $5.4 Million in grant money is something that’s unheard of,” said authority engineer M. Christopher McCoach, of Alfred Benesch and Co.. “I think it’s a great offer. There’s not many out there that you’re going to see today.”

“I have to say, it was a team cooperative effort. Like Chris had mentioned, in this day and age, to get a grant for $5.4 Million is practically unheard of,” said borough secretary and consultant Joe Palubinsky, crediting the sewer authority members, McCoach, Mary Lou Buchinsky, and Congressman Matt Cartwright’s offices for their work involved.

“We’re talking about [replacing] a 45 year old plant that technically has an economic life of 20 to 25 years,” said Palubinsky, adding that the authority previously discussed a possible replacement in 2011. 

​”In my 18 years on council, I’ve never seen a grant that large. Thank you all for your help on this, very much,” said authority chair Leo Pietkiewicz, who also serves as borough council president.

The current facility was constructed in 1974, according to archives of the former Shenandoah Evening Herald. ​ 

The authority also approved advertising for bids from local financial institutions for interim financing for the project.

(Sherry Streeter contributed to this report)

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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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