Schuylkill County Municipal Authority customers should be on the lookout for a letter from the authority about the meter upgrade project.
The letter, which will be sent this month, will request that customers set up a time for an employee of Lenegan Plumbing & Heating LLC to replace their water meter. A copy of the letter was not provided, but Patrick M. Caulfield, executive director of SCMA, said phone numbers and a website will be provided to schedule an appointment. Employees will have a badge that has been approved by SCMA. He said the meter change will take about 15 to 20 minutes. A unit outside will read the meter.
“This project is completely funded by SCMA at no cost to the residential customer,” Caulfield said Tuesday.
The authority received a loan of $6.4 million in January from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for the replacement of 11,000 residential water meters in 22 municipalities and a tank upgrade project. The board awarded the contract for the meter installation project to the Ocean City, New Jersey-based company April 19. The contract was signed April 26. The tank upgrade project, which seeks to rehabilitate and repair three water tanks, was also awarded previously.
“The meters have reached their useful life. Installation of the meters will help us from an environmental standpoint,” Caulfield said. The meters will also be in compliance with the lead free act, he said previously.
He said the meter upgrade project must be substantially completed in a year with final completion in 395 days.
In related business, the board approved authorizing documents in preparation for settlement with Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for the Reilly Township project and tanks and meter upgrades project. The Reilly Township waterline project involves a new waterline to the village of Newtown.
The renovations to the third floor were discussed briefly. The board is seeking to renovate the third floor into a planning and training room facility, which will mostly be used by the authority. In November, the board approved a $29,000 proposal from Levkulic Associates, Pottsville, for the design, contract administration and construction administration for the project. Money for the project will come from the general funds. A legal ad in The Republican-Herald published May 15 said in part that a pre-bid conference will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at the municipal authority building, 221 S. Centre St. Bids will be received until noon June 17 at the office. They will be opened and read aloud.
Caulfield said the bids could be awarded at the July 19 board meeting.