CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Many faces familiar to the Connoquenessing Sewer Authority attended the township supervisors meeting Wednesday evening to reiterate their concerns about a proposed $22.5 million sewage treatment plant.

Dozens of people at the September sewer meeting said they were not notified about the project, noted it would be too expensive, with a proposed $3,800 tap-in fee, and warned its construction would destroy land and properties throughout the township. Other concerns included trespassing of township officials on private property, the loss of privacy due to construction and that residential areas didn't need a new sewage system.

Overall, residents were upset with a lack of communication with the supervisors, and resident Bill Long pleaded with the board to stop the project or redraw the plans.

“You've got to look at another way to do this,” Long said. “You can't destroy our livelihood as we come through.”

After hearing more than a dozen people signed up to speak as well as many others in the crowded room who spoke openly following the comment period, the supervisors praised attendees for their participation. They said they would speak again with the Department of Environmental Protection, which the supervisors said advised them on the project in an unrecorded meeting years ago, to roll back some of the plans.

“We need to work together and we will try to work together,” said supervisor chairman Terry Steinheiser. “We have a lot of people here, there's a lot of concerns here. It gives us something to digest. I needed to hear your opinions; these guys needed to hear your opinions.”

Many residents also said they didn't receive a letter notifying them that their property would be affected by the sewer project. Several others said they were new to the township, and were not notified of the proposed project.

The supervisors also said they had a meeting approximately five or six years ago that many people attended to share their concerns. Supervisor Ricky Kradel said the current determination of residents against the project is what has been needed all throughout the project's talks.

Kradel also said he spoke recently with officials from the DEP. He said officials noted in their conversations that a sewage system would be installed in Connoquenessing Township.

Kradel told the residents present that he would approach the DEP again with some concerns he heard expressed at the meeting.

“I want some answers of why we can't do certain things,” Kradel said. “Scale this way down and just build on it as we go ... I want to hit pause.”

Once they completed the agenda, the supervisors entered an executive session to discuss real estate and litigation issues. They invited the residents to attend the next sewer authority meeting Oct. 26, and next month's supervisors meeting.