The Lycoming County commissioners Thursday appointed a team to investigate the proper use of proceeds from Clean Renewable Energy Bonds issued by the county.
The team will be comprised for investment bankers Boenning and Scattergood Inc., bond counsel Dinsmore and Shohl LLP and consulting engineering firm Cummings and Smith.
The investigation is due to changes in the scope of the project for which the bonds initially were issued, according to Beth Johnston, director of county fiscal services.
Proceeds from the bonds, which amount to about $2.3 million, were to be used to help pay for the upgrade and expansion of the cogeneration plant at the Lycoming County landfill in Brady Township. The plant uses landfill gas to fuel engines that produce electricity.
Portions of the project have changed and an investigation is needed to make
sure bond proceeds still can be used for the project under Internal Revenue Service rules, Johnston said.
The commissioners approved an amendment to an agreement with Ebensburg-based engineering firm L. Robert Kimball and Associates for work related to the development of a regional solid waste plan.
The amendment increases by $20,000 the money paid to the firm by the county and brings the total paid to the firm to about $381,000, said Kevin McJunkin, county environmental planner.
The increase is due to concerns about the plan raised by the state Department of Environmental Protection, McJunkin said. Those concerns required the firm do more work on the plan, he said.
Grants will pay for most of the work associated with the project, he said.
In other business, the commissioners agreed to spend almost $40,000 to repair a baler at the recycling center at the landfill.
The baler's hydraulic cylinder is cracked, said Jason Yorks, county resource recovery manager. The cylinder has been repaired twice but no longer can be fixed, Yorks said.
The balers is used to process newspaper, magazines, metal cans and plastic, Yorks said.
