Michael J. Peleshak, project manager for Alfred Benesch & Co. was once again on hand for the monthly meeting of the Nesquehoning Water Authority to provide status updates to the Board on the new water tank project. Peleshak said that the project is nearing completion.

The tank is in the process of being filled and testing for bacteria will take place this week.The lines have been pressure tested and the booster pump station has been delivered and set into place. Water lines have been hooked up to the pump station, however the electrical lines still need to be tied in.A small issue arose with regard to the purchase of a 250-gallon propane tank to be placed at the booster station to run the emergency generator.Blooming Glen Contractors was having difficulty purchasing a tank without an annual propane gas contract from suppliers.One supplier offered to provide a 500-gallon tank for free if there was a minimum gas purchase of $500 per year.The names of other propane gas companies were given to Peleshak to try to seek out a more suitable agreement.Authority members approved payment #6 for Blooming Glen Contractors in the amount of $81,822.39.Also approved was a change order #2 in the amount of $5,100 to remove unsuitable soil from under the tank foundation following several days of rain over the summer. Board member Frank Parano was opposed to the motion.Another change order, now reduced to $21,000, was once again sent back for further clarification.Due to a discrepancy with the aerial mapping of the area, the tank site had to be shifted back 15 feet resulting in additional excavation.Engineer Ron Tirpak questioned the 3,600 cubic yards of excavation and would like to know how that figure was obtained.Peleshak said he would look into the matter.In other business, residents Arnold and Donna Kemmerer spoke to authority members regarding a bill they received for a permit fee and pipe work completed on the water lines coming from their property.While they did not dispute that it was their responsibility, Kemmerer was concerned that he was not given any notice that the work was going to take place in advance and was just surprised to receive the two bills totaling over $1,700.Kemmerer requested that he would be granted the ability to be placed on a payment plan until the bills can be paid in full.David Hawk, authority president, apologized for the lack of communication and agreed to work out a payment plan for the Kemmerers.