BUTLER TWP — New Butler Area Sewer Authority board member Mike English hopes to support local businesses with the construction of four stormwater storage tanks.

The multimillion dollar project has BASA building storage tanks to hold stormwater that has been infiltrating sanitary sewer lines during heavy rain or snow melts. Under English's plan, the water would be released slowly to the treatment plant on Litman Road.

This project is part of a state Department of Environmental Protection consent agreement that requires BASA to eliminate raw sewage overflows in several areas during heavy water periods. The whole project must be completed by 2012.

English told fellow board members that he has visited Butler County concrete companies and contractors, and feels they can do the job of building the holding tanks.

"I think we ought to make sure that our specs (specifications for building the tanks) enable Butler County contractors to get this contract," English said.

Solicitor Mike Hnath and Jerry Patterson, board chairman, both told English that BASA can't do that.

"We will publicly advertise for the project and everyone is welcome to make an application, but we can't make the specifications for a specific company," Hnath said, adding that to do so would be in violation of federal law.

Patterson also pointed out that for projects like this one, contractors use local concrete suppliers.

"But we have to make sure that we have an experienced contractor, one who knows how to build these tanks," said BASA engineer John Schon.

English said he found several contractors who are currently building a large holding tank in the area, but couldn't remember their names.

"I just think that a project of this size is going to be important to the local economy," English said.

Other board members agreed, but again emphasized that they couldn't stack the bidding process in favor of a county company.

"We have to bid this, but the process is open to any company who wants to apply," Hnath said.

In other business, the board bought the Colosmo building on Connoquenessing Creek below the former Main Street Viaduct for $79,000 for a new pump station that will send sewage to the future tank field near Allegheny Axle.

Hnath said BASA also agreed to help the metal fabricating business move to a new location including paying for the move and electrical service to the new location.