Citing the need to encourage construction within Scott Twp., the sewer authority slashed thousands off a sewer-related fee future property owners would be required to pay.
Prompted by Supervisor David Makala's concerns that the steep price for a grinder pump - in addition to other costs associated with the sewer system - would drive people away, authority members on Monday reduced their asking price by 59 percent, from $3,700 to $1,500.
The decrease comes less than a month after the authority agreed to sell extra grinder pumps to people who purchase a property along the sewer line and are required to hook up to the township's system.
Originally, the authority planned to sell pumps for $3,700 - about $2,200 more than what they paid for each. But Mr. Makala's questions and concerns prompted officials to rethink the rate, which was first introduced at a March 12 meeting.
"I didn't want to see the taxpayers coming into the township pay that kind of money," said Mr. Makala. "We are trying to promote growth within the township. When we (supervisors) foresee something that's not acceptable to the township residents, we need to speak out."
The authority covered the costs of grinder pumps - sold at retail price of $4,150 - for those on the original plan, about 1,350 equivalent dwelling units, as a way to "limit upfront costs," Mr. Giannetta said.
But the authority didn't want current ratepayers to "subsidize or pay" for someone not on the plan to be added to the township's sewer system, Mr. Giannetta said. The new system provides service to about half of the township's homes and businesses. The rest continue to use septic systems.
Property owners aren't required to purchase a pump through the authority, but the pumps must be manufactured by Environment One Corp. and reviewed and approved by the authority's engineer before they are installed.
Money raised through the sale of the pumps will be used by the authority to replace pumps, pipes and generators and will help ensure funds are available for future needs at the system.
"We have an overriding belief that whatever costs are incurred should be paid for by the new homeowner," Mr. Giannetta said. "We comprised, we brought it down to where we aren't giving free pumps, but we also didn't want to make it too high."
Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter