Sussex approves $50K for water upgrades

SUSSEX BOROUGH — The Sussex Borough Council recently approved working with the state Dept. of Transportation to change the Route 23 realignment project to include water system plans.

The council approved $15,000 to place a water line under the new Route 23 bridge and $27,992 for steel pipe castings to Ferraro Construction, Inc. The amount is not to exceed $50,000. The change anticipates possible future water customers south of the borough on Route 23.

During a recent meeting, the council discussed the pros and cons of the expenditure.

Chief Financial Officer Elke Yetter said that if the capital improvement goes over $36,000 the borough may need to put 5 percent down on future bond anticipation notes.

In response to Councilwoman Georgeanna Stoll's comment about needing the expense, Mayor Jonathan Rose said the council had a choice between weighing the cost of investment now against the benefit of potential customers in the future. Part of the cost will make the 2015 budget very hard because it will start in the negative, and future bonding also will cost more.

Councilman Salvatore Lagattuta said if the borough does it later, the cost may be twice as much.

Rose responded that the cost may even be four times as much. Also, it might be 10 years from now until there are new customers in that area.

"It might never happen," Councilman Bruce LaBar said.

During public comment, Councilman-Elect Robert Holowach said because the borough businesses and residents are having economic problems, the borough cannot spend money on things that are nice to have. The Council has to figure out a way to get the water/sewer rates down in order to not chase businesses and home owners out of Sussex Borough.

Rose said that in “four short weeks there will be the budget process, and I hope you can find some savings.”