BY ROBERT L. BAKER

Wyoming County Press Examiner

Tunkhannock Twp. supervisors voted, 2-1, Monday night to move an Act 537 plan addressing sewers around Lake Carey to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The township had been under an administrative order by DEP since the spring of 2011 to act, solicitor Paul Litwin told a crowd of about 40 persons.

Most were not in  favor of the call for a central sewage collection system that would serve the lake which straddles both Tunkhannock and Lemon townships.

Lemon Twp. supervisors had voted unanimously on Jan. 7 to send the revised plan to DEP.

Before those in attendance were given a chance to speak, Litwin underscored that the only viable alternative that supervisors would have to vote on was a system “when it’s affordable.”

“As of now, it’s not affordable,” Litwin said, “and even if they agree to pass it tonight, no one is likely to be pulling up shovels any time soon.”

Still, people questioned how anybody could be considering attempting a system that resident John Tidball said would likely cost $9.5 million.

Resident Rick Sloboda said, “With times the way they are, I think taking on this project is just very, very bad. This is not the time and place.”

David Rinehimer said the concept without zoning “is just crazy. This will just allow so much development to go on and who ends up footing the bill?”

Litwin said the townships had formed a joint municipal authority and had already made application to the Rural Utilities Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for grants to bring the cost down, but there was no assurance money would be there.

“So, what’s affordable?” Tidball asked.

“That depends on who you talk to,” supervisor Veto Barziloski Jr. said. “Our preliminary discussions have been focused around $1,0000 a year.”

With no further questions Barziloski talked of various options under consideration and supervisor Randy White said he was in favor of implementing a plan for on-lot systems “and enforce it. Our problem is we never enforced it before and look where it got us.”

Supervisior Glenn Shupp said he was in favor of the central collection system.

Barziloski sided with Shupp, with White voting no, and the plan now will be sent to DEP via consultant Harleth Davis.

“Were going to submit this thing but DEP might give it right back to us,” Barziloski said. “We’ll keep you posted.”