RII May 12,1976 SUSO Vol. 76 No. 5 Bob Meckley (left) and Henry Klugh (right) run the Mount Joy sewage February 4, 1 Susquehanna Times & The Mount Joy Builetin MARIETTA & MOUNT JOY, PA. reatment plant. They have to solve a lot of complex math and chemistry problems every day to keep the complex plant operating properly. The present sewage overload doesn’t make their work any easier. photo by Judy Stoltzfus Sewage plant improvements will cost Mount Joy up to $2.5 million State and federal anti- pollution regulations may cost the people ofthe Mount Joy area up to $2.5 million in the near future. The Mount Joy Borough Authority has been ordered to improve its sewage system by the State Dept. of Environmental Resources and the Federal Environ- mental Protection Agency. The borough has planned $10 million worth of im- provements to meet anti- pollution regulations. The federal government will pay roughly 7S % of the cost. The remaining $2.5 mil- lion will be paid by the Borough of Mount Joy. The borough will raise the money through a bond issue which is a type of loan. Sewer rates will be raised to pay off the loan. Homes and businesses in surround- ing townships which use the Mount Joy sewers will also pay higher rates. The Borough Authority is doing everything it can to lower the cost of the re- quir§d improvements. The Authority has hired a firm of consultants to learn whether clean-water regulations can be met with a less expensive system. > However, even if the Authority succeeds in cutting costs by a few million “dollars, the people of Mount Joy will pay more for their sewer service. In return for their money, the people will get cleaner water in Chickies Creek. There are two reasons why the Mount Joy sewage treatment plant is not meeting government anti- pollution standards: The volume of sewage has in- creased beyond the plant’s capacity to process it properly, and state regula- tions have gotten tougher. Present plans call for $5 million worth of improve- ments to the plant itself, plus a $5 million outlet pipe to the Susquehanna River. Treated sewage is now being poured into Chickies Creek. The DER and EPA suggested that Mount Joy pipe its sewage to the Sus- quehanna. The river can absorb more sewage than the creek be- cause of the river's large volume of water. To help rate payers understand how their money is being spent, the Susque- hanna Times toured Mount Joy’s present sewage treat- ment plant, and looked at the plans for new facilities. [continued on page 9] Councilman John Parker on the John Parker photo by Judy Stoltzfus Marietta Councilman, John Parker wants taxes to stay down. He notes that many of the town’s property owners are elderly people who live on fixed incomes, and he is afraid they cannot afford a tax hike. Last year, when Mr. Parker was Borough Council President, the Council voted unanimously to lower taxes from 19 mills fo 16 mills, after a wage tax refund from Donegal School District boosted Marietta’s re- venues. gph 0 Snyder rod’ Xe De 2 ® Joy» Moun! PA \ 7992 UEHANNA T1M™S «ir 'TEEN CENTS Map of proposed historic district in Marietta released by committee The historic districting committee of the Marietta Res.oration Associates has prepared a map showing the boundaries of the proposed historic district in Marietta. The map was developed in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in Harrisburg. The area includes; Front St. from the east side of New Haven to the west side of Perry St.; both sides of Market St. beginning at the west side of New Haven and ending with the properties on the east side of Jone St.; both sides of New Haven St. from Front St. to Market St., excluding the town hall; both sides of Waterford Ave. from Front to Walnut St.; both sides of Gay St. from Front St. to Apple Ave.; both sides of Perry St. from Front St. to Market St. The committee plans to visit as many homes in the area as possible, to explain historic districting and ask how residents feel about it. They will begin surveying residents in May, and will continue through June. In July, the findings of the survey and a draft of proposed legislation will be presented to borough coun- cil. Members of the PA Historical and Museum Commission will also attend the council meeting to answer questions. If the legislation is passed, the law requires a review by the PA Historical and Museum Commission. The proposed legislation would set up an ‘‘architec- tural review board’ which would advise borough coun- cil. All decisions reached by the board would have to be approved by the council. The board would review building permits and re- quests to demolish or raze buildings. Since building permits are required only for alterations costing 5300 fair market value, any alterations costing less than $300 would not require approval. Only future changes to thr exteriors of buildings in the district would need approval by the review board and borough council. No chang- es to existing homes would be required. What would determine approval or disapproval of each request is the character of the home and those surrounding it. No set of specific guidelines is estab- lished for changes to any home or business in the district. MJ Boro Authority given update Mount Joy Borough Authority was given an update by the bond counsel on the boro’s sewer and water projects at their May meeting. The counsel said the water project should be under way by mid-October, with bids to be advertised in June and opened in early August. Authority members said they should know by Sep- tember the amount of increase in water rates that will be necessary. At its April meeting the authority voted to employ value engineering whereby an independent engineer is called in to check the plant design submitted by the borough engineers. The independent engineer makes recommendations to the borough authority which are then submitted to the DER and the EPA for their approval. : If the DER and EPA rule changes are needed, the project will be delayed six to seven months. The project is three months behind the proposed schedule now due to the value engineering study. Regarding the addition to the present sewage facility, engineer Gerald Voegler, engineer, said the borough engineers are ready for the second phase of sewer line inspections. He said the physical inspection is com- pleted and the lines are . ready for television inspec- tions. Voegler said the televis- ion inspection requires EPA approval and a decision should be received from EPA within 60 days. [continued on page 16] future of Marietta; keep taxes low Parker is proud of that tax cut, and disagrees with those councilmen who have changed their minds about keeping the millage low. Parker notes that the town has steadily improved over the last ten years. As property values rise, more tax money will become available for municipal improvements, even if mil- lage stays low. John Parker has not taken a firm stand on the question of historic districting be- cause no concrete proposals on the subject have been made to the borough coun- cil. He notes that the only information available on historic districting has appeared in newspaper stories. Based on what he has read, Parker is not opposed to the idea. However, he thinks it is a question for property owners to decide by public ballot. As a general rule, Parker thinks his neighbors should have the right to modernize their property if the choose to. He does not think the borough should attempt unreasonably strict or ex- pensive restoration schemes. In John Parker’s view, Marietta’s future should depend more on its people than on its elected officials. He thinks the town govern- ment should move cautious- ly and carefully. He feels the borough should take care not to inflict unnecessary hardships on the people or to interfere with their rights.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers