Public input sought on BASA offer
BUTLER TWP — Administrators are seeking resident input on the potential sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority, and are hosting two open houses to hear feedback.
Butler Township commissioners will discuss the potential sale of BASA to Pennsylvania American Water Company from 10 a.m. until noon and from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the township municipal building, 290 South Duffy Road.
The authority received an offer of $231.5 million last week to sell the system, which serves nearly 15,000 customers in 32.5 square miles, which includes Butler, Butler and Center townships, East Butler, parts of Connoquenessing, Summit and Oakland townships and a small portion of Penn Township. If the water company buys the authority, the profit would be split between the Butler Township and city.
Township Commission President Dave Zarnick said at Monday’s meeting of the commissioners that the administrators are happy to hear comments from residents.
“We have been working hard to ensure that any proposal puts customers, BASA employees and communities first,” Zarnick said. “We want to hear what you think about the plan, but also we want to hear how you would like us to use this funding to support essential services for our residents, future financial obligations and investments into various other community improvements.”
The authority is run by a five-person board of directors, three of whom are appointed by city council and two by Butler Township commissioners. The city, township and authority have been under a confidentiality agreement with the water company since December 2021, as the water company evaluated the sewer system’s assets.
“We encourage residents to come out (at the open houses) and talk to the individuals who will be on hand to answer your questions,” Zarnick said.
Workers will soon begin preparing a space in Pullman Center Business Park to eventually build a proposed sports and recreational complex.
The commissioners awarded the preparation contract for the site to DemEx, a Butler-based excavation company, for a base bid of $384,740 at the meeting.
Township administrators have been planning to install a sports complex in the township since late-2020. The complex’s base will be an athletic field with artificial turf that can be used for many activities. Also, township commissioners are considering installing a walking trail to surround the main field area.
In April, 2021, the cost for the project was estimated at $3.75 million. The township will pay half, and a matching funds grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will pay for the remaining $1.875 million.
Township manager Tom Knights said the preparation could be completed in December, and mainly involves the site being excavated and cleared of debris.
Trick-or-treat in Butler Township is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
Additionally, township administrators reiterated to a group of attendees at the meeting that there are no development plans for a parking lot at Preston Park, and any development plans would need to be publicly advertised before being put into action.
