Youngsville Borough Council acted to approve police officer contracts and increase minimum water service fees at their regular meeting this week.
Council approved a $5 minimum fee increase for water service. The increase will be included in the borough's 2013 budget.
Council also approved contracts for the Youngsville Borough Police Department. The vote was unanimous with Councilmember Eric Mineweaser, the chief of police's brother, abstaining.
Borough Wastewater Operator Mark Theuret was on hand to highlight a wastewater system deteriorating into disrepair.
Theuret noted infiltration of fluid into the waste system due to leaks is becoming a serious issue.
According to him, should the water being processed by the wastewater system exceed capacity for more than three consecutive months, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection could impose corrective actions on the borough, such as requiring a system upgrade. System capacity was exceeded for two consecutive months in 2012. Youngsville is still paying for its last system upgrade.
"It's costing you thousands and thousands of dollars," Theuret noted, citing treatment and system maintenance costs from the increased workload. "It's expensive. There's no way around it. It needs work."
Theuret used the example of a pipe crossing at Brokenstraw Creek, which is exposed and deteriorating, to illustrate the costs of work needed for the system. according to him, it would cost approximately $92,000 to replace that crossing alone.
Borough Manager Lisa Hagberg, in her report to council, cited a pump repair cost of $6,800 which was incurred since Council last met.
Theuret noted parts of the borough's wastewater system are 80 or more years old.
"We're entering this cycle where we would have to do this," Councilmember John Barhydt said. "Things are deteriorating."
Council also received news bids for Streetscape work that had been opened by PennDOT. According to Hagberg, the low bid, from M&B Services of Clarion, came in $30,000 below what was budgeted for the work.
According to Hagberg, streetscape work should begin in February or March 2013.
Council approved an additional $1,800 from capital reserve funds to complete improvement work at Island Park. Council had previously approved $2,500 for the project.
Hagberg reported a total of $811,056 in borough accounts at the end of November.