People in Penn and Middlesex townships whose properties are part of the Saxonburg Area Authority's expansion project are right in expecting that their streets and properties be restored after sewer line installation is complete.

That people now are coming forward to complain about restoration work not carried out should cause the authority to pay closer attention to all facets of the project work.

On Tuesday, the authority spent about two hours discussing the uncompleted work with which 10 people have had to contend. While that is a minute number considering that the expansion involves 2,200 new customers, the authority nevertheless has an obligation to ensure that complaints don't become much broader in scope.

The summer months are when people obtain the most enjoyment from their properties and neighborhoods. They should not have to endure an inordinate amount of time and inconvenience simply because some contractors find it more in their best interests to move forward on other aspects of the work they have been hired to do than to devote time to what they might consider minor finish work.

There appears to be a need for a better balance of the work that is being done than what some new customers are encountering.

If there are problems in addition to those experienced by the 10 people at Tuesday's meeting, property owners should come forward to discuss them.

To his credit, Jay Rinebolt, authority chairman, sided with the residents' concerns by stating, "I really want these (remaining issues) taken care of."

Paul Cornetti, authority engineer, promised that the authority would continue working with customers on their issues. He said most of the properties need at least some work by the respective contractors that worked in those areas.

A project of such large scope — $52.5 million — was destined to have some problems and difficulties along the way; few large projects are carried out from start to finish without any glitches or change orders.

But some problems are easily avoided and quickly repaired. The problems discussed Tuesday seem to fit that category.

What is needed is for the authority to get the contractors in question back to the locations where work is necessary and complete it without delay. A meeting with the contractors would be a good first step for that process.

The authority neither needs nor wants its good name and reputation besmirched by a situation so easily avoidable.

The authority got off to a commendable start by not trying to pooh-pooh the situation on Tuesday. But now that it has listened to complaints, it must not relax the corrective-action determination that Rinebolt projected.

Meanwhile, it should extend an open ear to others who might have complaints but who have so far not voiced them.

The sewage system expansion project is a great, progressive step forward. It should not be tarnished by unfinished work causing agitation and frustration among the people it is intended to serve.