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Pending approval, South Williamsport and DuBoistown are set to enter a partnership with Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority leading to bring the sediment levels of their stormwater down.
Both boroughs were issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, only allowing their elevated levels for five years. Now coming to the end of their first year with no substantial projects, the authority is coordinating the partnership.
"Time is of the essence," said Christine Weigle, authority executive director.
The resource demands of not only money, but people and time, have been "ramped up" by these regulations increasing the number of responsibilities on municipal government.
Anticipating this, authority officials have met with the boroughs to formulate a memorandum of understanding, or a document laying the foundation for fleshing out the fine details of the partnership.
"That MoU documents what our implementation path looks like," said Weigle. "It forges the path forward for us in defining the responsibilities of both boroughs and the authority and leads us to the execution of an intergovernmental cooperation agreement."
The ultimate goal is to streamline regulator requirements, eliminate duplication of services, enhance opportunities for grants or loans, share costs and, ultimately, save money, she said.
"The authority's role is environmental compliance," she said. "That's our world, that's not necessarily the municipal government's world. This is a new animal for our partners."
Don Konkle, board member, said there will be more municipalities to follow DuBoistown and South Williamsport's lead.
"These two just happen to be the first two on the chopping block," he said. "Everybody else is going to be involved."
As such, the MoU also allows other municipalities to join the partnership in the future as more local governments receive their five-year permits.
John Bickhart, engineer, who was involved in the meetings with the South Side boroughs, said excellent progress has been made.
"I would characterize that as probably one of the best meetings that I have ever been at," he said. "I think the mindset is headed in the right direction all the time, but this allows people from both worlds to really hear it all together and express their feelings."
Contingent on MoU approval from both boroughs, the authority also approved of additional support from HRG Inc., an engineering firm, and Salzmann Hughes P.C. for legal advice.
In other business, the authority:
• Made the final payment for the Tules Run well project for $19,314, thus spending the full $205,000-Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer grant.
• Acknowledged First Commonwealth Bank as authorized signers to several accounts previously held by Santander Bank.
• Voted to submit an appeal to the steel product procurement decision court case.
The next LCWSA meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Oct. 2, at the LCWSA offices on 380 Old Cement Road, Montoursville.