The county commissioners took action Wednesday aimed at reducing the monthly bills Boyers residents would pay for a new sewage treatment system.

Commissioners unanimously voted to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for a $3.75 million grant from a competitive Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus program for the sewage project.

The CDBG-COVID program is part of the federal Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The grant, combined with $1 million in CDBG funding previously obtained by the county for the project, would result in residents paying approximately $56 a month for sewage service.

That amount is significantly less than the $95 a month residents would pay under the project financing arranged by Marion Township supervisors, county officials said.

In October, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVEST) awarded the township a $2.7 million grant and about $1.4 million in a low-interest loan to install a new treatment plant and more than 15,000 feet of sewer lines.

Wendy Leslie, the county’s Community Development Block Grant director, said the PennVEST financing would have set user fees at $95 a month, which resident can’t afford.

“PennVEST believes that amount is feasible,” Leslie said.

The CDBG-COVID grant would reduce the amount needed from PennVEST or eliminate the need for PennVEST funding, she said.