South Pymatuning Township supervisors would like to have a little more input in decisions being made about the future of Sharpsville's water plant.

In a May 8 letter to Sharpsville council, supervisors Michael P. Nashtock Jr., Burt R. DeVries and Michael T. Derr said they were "somewhat perplexed that as your partner in water service we have not been formally informed as to council's plans for the future of the borough's water plant. We still have several years left on a contract that South Pymatuning may never have entered into had we known this plant could be sold to Consumers."

The supervisors' biggest concern is the effect that selling the plant to Consumers Pennsylvania Water Co. might have on township water rates and businesses.

"Selling a not-for-profit plant to a for-profit company will take all control over water rates away from the township, the borough, and indeed the residents, both private and industrial/commercial, similar to the sewer rates."

Dean Dairy Products, which operates a plant in the township, says sewer rates there are the second only to rates the company pays at a plant in California.

"Dean Foods has three other plants within 100 miles of here. This double-whammy of loss of control may be enough to cause Dean Foods to take 250 jobs out of Mercer County," supervisors said.

At a Sharpsville council work session Monday, council members told Nashtock and DeVries that they got the message.

"You got our attention," Councilman Bob Piccirilli said.

The letter may have ruffled a few feathers but council members said they are willing to work with township officials.

"I think we should all be sitting down as a council and them together and saying, 'Hey, let's try working something out that we all can live with and that's not going to kill the taxpayers,' if that's what we're looking at doing," said Gary "Gus" Grandy, council vice-president.

"And I didn't take offense to the letter, I just took it that I think that you want part of a little bit of what's going to happen and a little say so. And I think you need a say so, because what happens to us is going to be part of what happens to you. ... There's all those options, but we need your input with this."

"You're a very important part of Sharpsville," Piccirilli said. "And Dean Dairy is a very important part of Mercer County."

Nashtock conceded that supervisors might have made assumptions in the letter that "we jumped the gun on." But Councilman Alex Kovach assured Nashtock that council was still in the process of investigating all of the options.

Kovach asked if Nashtock believed supervisors should be "making those decisions with us as to what we're going to do with our water plant."

"I think we have a vested interest in that," Nashtock said. The borough and the township are "partners in the delivery of water, at least to our residents."

Because of state Department of Environmental Protection regulations, Sharpsville officials have to decide if they will upgrade the current water plant, build a new one or sell the plant.

"We're concerned as a council to make sure that we do the best thing for the town," Piccirilli said. "And if that is upgrading our plant for $1 million instead of spending $3 1/2 million, we will do that. And if it affects the future of South Py, then we need to work with you guys."

Last month, Council President Jack Cardwell said he hoped Monday's workshop would be used to move Sharpsville a step closer to a decision.

However, based on conversations at the session, council is still seeking facts and figures from several sources, including what they said is a firm and final offer from Consumers Pennsylvania Water Co., as well as figures from DEP.

Another option -- forming a regional authority with Greenville and Reynolds -- appears to be out, according to Kovach.

"I actually thought that this Wednesday night (tonight) we would make a decision as to whether we're going to sell or keep it," Cardwell said. "However, that's not going to happen and I should have known better since I've been involved in this kind of stuff for a few years."

A second reason, he added, it won't be discussed at 7 tonight at council's monthly meeting is because three councilmen won't be able to attend because of prior commitments.

Cardwell vented his frustration at the process that he believes is dragging on far too long.

"I think everybody in the back of their minds knows what they want to do. And me, I'm in favor of maintaining control of it. I'll be right up front, I'm in favor of keeping it. I don't think we need to build a brand new plant from scratch, I think we can make the necessary renovations where people's bills are not going to increase $13 a month. ... I still think we can produce quality water."

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Jeff Greenburg at:
jgreenburg@sharonherald.com.

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