SAXONBURG — The Saxonburg Area Authority is a bit closer to providing sewage service to Herman.

The authority board Tuesday approved the preparation of an agreement with Summit Township pending approvals from Penn and Butler or Jefferson townships to allow a main sewage line to go through their municipalities.

The new line would collect sewage from up to 350 residential and commercial properties in Herman and follow an unnamed tributary until it tied into an existing authority line in Penn Township.

Authority engineer Paul Cornetti said existing customers' rates could drop if Herman is added to the system.

"We can reduce costs by picking up Summit," he said.

Along with Herman residents becoming authority customers, another option would be that Summit would become a bulk customer for the authority and then bill Herman residents separately.

Cornetti said it's likely the state PennVest program would lend money for the project.

Rich Kraft of Olsen Engineering, Summit's engineer, said the proposed main line would run into Penn from either Butler or Jefferson townships.

A previous plan to run a main through Jefferson along Thorn Creek was aborted after Jefferson supervisors bowed to pressure from their residents and denied permission.

Authority board member Doug Roth, who also is a Penn Township supervisor, said Penn Township's meeting Tuesday will be too soon for Penn to decide whether to grant permission for the newest plan.

"We're still looking into it," Roth said about Penn Township officials.