Farrell council Monday OK’d spending the last of the Shenango Valley Intergovernmental Study Committee’s first grant and took steps to secure funding for a sewer study.

The committee, made up of members of Farrell, Sharon, Hermitage, Sharpsville and Wheatland, is studying merging or consolidating the communities.

Council approved floating a request for proposals for consulting engineering services to study consolidating the sanitary sewer operations of the five towns.

The city is asking for proposals as lead community in the SVISC. The city secured a $50,000 state grant for the SVISC study and initiated discussions about forming the committee.

Early estimates are that the sewer study would cost $50,000 to $100,000 with the state picking up the majority of the tab.

Although no state money has been applied for, the Strimbu Memorial Fund has agreed to put up a $10,000 matching grant.

Council also approved amending the city’s contract with the Pennsylvania Economy League’s Northwest Division to free up $5,000 in state grant money.

PEL was hired as consultant of the SVISC and has spent the $45,000 freely accessible in the state grant. The grant included another $5,000, which will now be used for non-salary expenses already incurred by PEL, all related to office expenses.

The state approved spending the last $5,000.