Offer in works for water authority
GoErie.com
BY GEORGE MILLER
george.miller@timesnews.com
Erie Water Works could present a proposal as soon as February to take over the operations of the Millcreek Township Water Authority.
That was the timetable set by Paul Vojtek, Erie Water Works’ chief executive, after he received some initial financial information from the township authority about the authority’s operations.
About a year ago, Millcreek Township supervisors asked Erie Water Works to submit a formal proposal to assume the township authority’s operations.
In July, Erie Water Works asked for the financial information to begin its analysis.
Vojtek said the authority has received 30 to 40 percent of the information it needs.
“We’re going to review it and evaluate it,” he said. “We’re going to be in contact with them to get additional information.”
George Riedesel, the township authority’s executive director, said he will be providing the remainder of the information soon.
A township task force, Cheaper Cleaner Water, has been urging the merger of the two systems because MTWA customers pay about 50 percent more on average than Erie Water Works customers in the township.
Erie Water Works has about 10,000 customers in the township and MTWA about 7,000.
The MTWA receives most of its water from Erie Water Works and resells it to its customers.
Riedesel said he’s waiting to see Erie Water Works’ proposal.
“Everybody has to put a lot of study and consideration into this,” he said. “It’s a pretty serious matter, where a mistake or other things can involve millions of dollars. It has to be done carefully. Everybody has to take it quite seriously.”
The authority is keeping its options open.
It hired Hill Engineering Inc., of North East, early this year to study the possibility of the authority building its own treatment plant and intake pipe.
That study is expected soon.
Millcreek Supervisor Brian McGrath said that the township would be interested in pursuing a lease of the authority’s system, depending on the Erie Water Works proposal.
“I would imagine eventually we’ll get some kind of offer,” he said. “We’ll see how that offer is.”
Erie Water Works wants to review the MTWA budgets and audit reports over the past few years; MTWA’s debt obligations; current contracted capital projects; and reports on the condition of the authority’s facilities and assets, among other items.
GEORGE MILLER can be reached at 870-1724 or by e-mail.