Ford City Borough Proposes Memorandum Edits

by Jonathan Weaver

An underground water main impacting construction of Ford City’s newest water treatment plant has caused both some tension and questions between neighboring municipalities.

Wednesday, Ford City Borough Council met with Gibson-Thomas Engineering’s Site Inspector Wes Sharp regarding Manor Township’s memorandum of understanding asking Ford City to pay for relocation of a force main along Neale Avenue.

“It’s a very simple tie-in,” Sharp confirmed. “We already put the new pipe in the ground.”

The issue surfaced in August, but Sharp said contractors will be moving 140 feet of piping about 25 feet to accommodate the new water plant. He estimated it would take less than an hour for crews to move the pipe if there is no complication.

But, questions regarding the memorandum caused Ford City Borough Council to continue their regular meeting to meet with engineers and discuss certain stipulations.

“In my experience, this is extremely odd,” Sharp said. “This has surprised everyone how difficult it is.

“It’s 140 foot of pipe (as part of a) $3 million project. (Ford City) lucked out and have a very good contractor, and (Manor Township) has lucked out by (Ford City) having a very good contractor to relocate this.”

Changes in the three-page agreement Ford City is proposing include indeed agreeing to pay overtime rates - but only outside of normal working hours -requesting AT&T remove all equipment from the Manor right-of-way within eight months – instead of agreeing to - and another “grammatical” stipulation.

By a vote of 5-1, Borough Council agreed to sign the revised memorandum and deliver a copy to Manor Township Joint Municipal Authority for consideration.

During the meeting, Council Vice-President Tyson Klukan – who opposed signing the agreement - viewed one of the original conditions as “challenging” Gibson-Thomas Engineering and, at Monday’s meeting, “ridiculous” that Manor Township wanted Ford City Borough to pay for engineering and legality fees despite existing costs.

Kukurin Contracting is currently off-site finishing another project.

Monday evening, Fenyes was concerned the memorandum’s conditions could delay construction of the water treatment plant – but Fenyes’ concerns were alleviated Wednesday after conversation with Manor Township Joint Municipal Authority Manager April Winklmann.

Ford City Hires Attorney to Negotiate with PennEnergy

 

by Jonathan Weaver

If surface use rights are extended to PennEnergy, Ford City Borough Council now has an attorney to represent them.

At last night’s public meeting, Borough Council unanimously signed an agreement to retain Parker Law Offices, Inc., of New Bethlehem.

Councilwoman Beth Bowser – who motioned for the agreement – said a lease with PennEnergy has not already been signed.

“We have not signed a lease, nor are we entertaining it until we get feedback from (Attorney Nathaniel Parker),” Bowser said.

Bowser said Parker would be retained at a rate of $225 per hour, and $50 for professional assistance.

“(Parker) has experience with these gas well businesses,” Bowser said. “He was referred to us through the County because of his experience in our county. (Borough) Solicitor (Anthony) Vigilante thought it was out of his realm since it’s such a big industry.

“He would be able to lead us as a council in the right direction to make sure we move forward in the best interest of Ford City Borough.”

According to the law office’s website, Parker has worked on oil and gas and coal matters since 2003.

At last month’s regular meeting, PennEnergy Resources Land Manager Zach Dixon and Construction Compliance Manager Joe Schwab discussed preliminary conversations to lease up to five acres in the Ford City brownfields.

“Generally, this facility will withdraw clean water from the Allegheny River, hold it in a tank facility and will then be used at PennEnergy’s operations in-and-around the region,” Dixon said last month. “With about 48-50,000 acres under lease around Ford City, we have a significant demand for water – these facilities are important for our operation and keeping the oil and natural gas operations continuous in nature.

“We have facilities that are operating basically 24/7 on creeks around Freedom Borough, Butler County, for a very, very similar type of withdrawal from the Ohio River.”

Under the original agreement, Ford City Borough would receive an upfront bonus of $10,000, plus a $2,400 annual payment depending on the number of acres utilized.

Dixon said the proposal would not impact the Ford City Trail, but Schwab was thinking of utilizing Fifth Avenue and Hill Street to access Route 422 – something Borough Council President Carol Fenyes and former Councilwoman Vicki Schaub disagreed with.

Council Vice-President Tyson Klukan explained why he agreed with the recommendation to hire Parker.

“Oil and gas can get tricky – especially with the concerns citizens brought up when PennEnergy did come to discuss and numbers were discussed,” Klukan said. “I think we can get a better deal out there, and I’m sure Mr. Parker can really digest that contract.”

If approved, PennEnergy said last month they hope for the site to be operational by next year.

Last night’s meeting was recessed until 5PM Wednesday.