Montrose questions proposed water line

BY STACI WILSON

Montrose Borough is looking for information from the county a proposed water line extension.

At the Monday, Nov. 2 meeting, council announced it had filed a right-to-know request with the county in an effort to gather information about the proposed project.

In June, the county commissioners allocated $750,000 from Act 13 funds to run public water to the county jail, contingent on support from the state and other entities for the balance of the proposed $1.8 million project.

The project calls for an 8-inch water line, hooking on near the RitzTex manufacturing facility on Lower South Main Street and running south along SR 29.
Councilman Craig Reimel said service to the former Bendix site and the Village of South Montrose is “off the table.”

At stake, he said, is a proposed, new manufacturing facility in that area.

Reimel said, “I have not seen a project offer this much economic development for this area. It’s important they have water.”

Also important to moving the development of manufacturing there forward is the installation of natural gas service distribution lines. The county jail is also slated to be converted to natural gas, and the county is looking to have the gas and water lines installed at the same time.

“I believe this is important to Montrose and all of Susquehanna County,” Reimel said. “It will show we can have viable manufacturing in this area.”

Reimel said that there’s been little engagement in developing sites in the Montrose and Bridgewater areas since the 1990s.

“All they are asking for is access to water and power he needs to do manufacturing. I don’t believe Montrose borough could stop the project if it wanted to,” Reimel said. “But we’re shooting ourselves in our own foot if we get in the way.”

Reimel said Pennsylvania American Water Company didn’t ask the borough when the water from Lake Montrose was used to feed the Montrose Area Junior-Senior High School or the hospital. “Why would they ask us to feed the South Montrose area?”

“I believe (borough council) should get behind (the project) in order to have economic development move forward in the Montrose and Bridgewater area,” Reimel concluded.

But some council members have questions about drawing water from Lake Montrose – the water supply for the borough.

Solicitor Marion O’Malley cautioned against the council moving to support the project without being brought up to speed on it. “You have a responsibility to the citizens of the borough,” she said.

Councilman Sean Granahan said that while he appreciated the prospect of economic development in the area, he had concerns over the PAWC supply.

He said he would like to see a study done on the lake’s water supply. “What if there’s a whole summer of dought?” he asked.

“What harm is it to say we want a water study? It would give us some comfort level before they start shooting off an 8-inch or 10-inch line.”

Granahan also said the proposed project usage is not the main issue, but rather others who would also tap into the line if available.

Council also discussed fire suppression needs, possible pollution and/or contamination of the water supply, source monitoring, and other scenarios.

Reimel said, “I don’t think we have all the information we need to have yet for the borough residents.”

Request for information have been filed with the county and also with DEP.

The Montrose Borough Police are looking to start up a Facebook page, similar to ones utilized by other local police agencies in the area.

Chief Dale Smith was given the okay by council to establish the page on the social media network.

Signs are in place on Cedar Street, denoting it as a one-way on a trial basis in the month of November. Traffic flow runs from the entrance on Cherry Street.

The borough received paperwork to release Streetscape project funding. The project- expected to get underway next year – will replace sidewalks on South Main Street.

Council has nearly completed the 2016 budget with few changes made since it was last reviewed by members. The budget is expected to be complete in time for the Nov. 16 council meeting, and will then be advertised before it is adopted by the end of the year.