SAXONBURG — The Saxonburg Area Authority is planning for the future.

The authority board Monday authorized manager Paul Cornetti to look into buying 12.8 acres adjacent to the sewage treatment plant on Renfrew Road in Penn Township.

Cornetti said in an interview the land, which is owned by WTTH Realty Estate Holdings in Penn Township, would be acquired as a long-term investment for potential expansion.

The authority board Monday also approved a $25,000 upgrade to the office computer system.

The upgrade includes making the e-mail system in-house. The authority and borough currently use enkompas Technology Solutions of Pittsburgh, which also will perform the work, as a host.

Authority controller Mary Papik, who also serves as borough manager, said in an interview e-mails are delayed by having a host.

The borough, which uses the same system, will pay $8,400 of the total cost.

In other action, the board approved the use of two purchasing cards, each with a $10,000 limit, from Citizens Bank.

Authority and borough staff have been using their own credit cards when needed to buy items such as starters for sewage pump motors.

The authority board also set a new rate for the water turn-off and service restoration fees. Originally $25, the rate was set at $45 to cover new costs assessed by Pennsylvania American Water.

The water company will charge the authority $40 for each shut-off.

If a shared customer is delinquent with sewage billing but not water, the water company charges the authority a fee for a turnoff.