When people seek public office, they should do so with the understanding that they sometimes will be called upon to make difficult decisions.

That is the dilemma Summit Township Supervisor Rod Scott faces.

It is Scott, the board of supervisors chairman, who must cast the deciding vote on the issue of whether Summit will build and operate its own sewage treatment plant for the Herman area, or whether Herman will join the Saxonburg Area Authority system.

Each of the two options has advantages over the other, but in making his decision, Scott will have the task of sorting out the overriding question of which option will be in the township's long-term best interests.

Supervisor Larry Osche favors linking up with Saxonburg, while Supervisor Danny Hay favors construction of a township treatment plant.

From a short-term cost standpoint, it is believed that a township plant would be the best bargain. Joining the authority's system would carry a township cost of $16.5 million, while building a treatment plant would cost an estimated $13 million.

However, a local treatment plant would require maintenance and operation costs that would not be the township's responsibility under the scenario of joining the Saxonburg system — although some money emanating from Herman presumably would go toward those costs.

Likewise, with the local plant, eventual expansion of the system would be a township responsibility that the township would avoid in being part of the Saxonburg operation.

Initially, it is estimated that Summit customers' monthly sewage service bills would be between $60 and $85, depending on which option is chosen. But it would seem that the possibility for significant increases over the initial bills would be more likely under the local treatment plant option than with being a part of the Saxonburg system.

Saxonburg has a handle on its costs of operation, while uncertainty seemingly would prevail, at least initially, regarding the full cost associated with building and operating a Summit plant.

With the other two supervisors split as to which way to proceed, the issue rests with Scott, who will be both praised and blamed for his vote, depending on residents' individual preference.

Difficult votes are a fact of life in public service, and anyone fearful of the kind of position in which Scott finds himself should think twice about running for office.

To his credit, Scott seems to accept the important role in which he has been cast. At a meeting on June 16, he said there was more information for him to review before rendering a decision.

His current plan is to decide the issue at a meeting at 7 p.m. July 7 at the township building along Bonniebrook Road. Presumably, at that time, he will be prepared to review whatever information helped him make his choice.

Whatever his decision, he seems to be dealing with it responsibly and without shortsighted haste.