Lower Towamensing Township has approved an amended professional services agreement with ARRO Consulting for the township’s sewer plant and anticipates bidding the project by next year.

Amanda Reitbauer, senior project manager, ARRO Engineering, reviewed the project and said they are hoping to have everything submitted in the fall and have the permits in the spring.

She said they are in the process of design.

Township solicitor Jim Nanovic said, “We don’t have money right now. We’re hoping to get funding.”

Resident Angela Farrell, who is a member of the township’s planning commission, asked, “What is the goal to get us where we should be?

“I feel like we have been waiting a long time to progress,” said Farrell, who added she would have expected ARRO to come with a more specific timetable.

Supervisor Michael Takerer told Farrell the board has discussed with ARRO where they’re at in the process.

Board Chairman Jay Mullikin said the township doesn’t have a construction time frame yet for the project.

Farrell said, “We’ve been in this stagnant, muddy water,” and added everyone in the community would expect an “honest answer than be treated like mushrooms.”

Jim Dailey, general manager, Blue Mountain Resort, noted their operation is also affected by the project.

“This has been going on for a long time,” said Dailey, who added they need to know more of a defined scenario. “I’m just one business; this is the township.”

Supervisors unanimously approved an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement dated March 29, 2024, as well as an amendment dated Jan. 27, 2026, between ARRO Consulting Inc. and the township to provide consulting engineering services for the design of a new gravity sanitary sewer system, pump station and force main.

The project

The proposed pump station is anticipated to be a submersible pump station with pumps capable of pumping at about 500 gallons per minute, with no building.

The station will be enclosed by a chain-link fence with one light and surface-mounted electrical controls.

Emergency power will be provided by a diesel generator with a fuel tank capable of providing 72 hours of power when full.

The scope of services includes:

• Perform wetland assessments and delineations within the project corridor and adjacent areas necessary to support the planning and permitting effort.

• Prepare GIS mapping and a Wetlands Assessment/Delineation Report documenting the results of the field investigations.

• Perform Phase 1 Bog Turtle Habitat Surveys of wetlands within the study area in accordance with acceptable U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requirements.

• Prepare GIS mapping and a Phase I Bog Turtle Habitat Survey Report documenting the survey findings for agency review.

• Prepare a Bog Turtle Avoidance Measures Workplan for submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including recommended avoidance measures and coordination necessary to support the project design and permitting process.

It revises the schedule as follows:

• Complete and submit 60% PS design, receive comments, by September.

• Submit permit applications by October.

• Receive permits by April.

• Submit 90% of design by March.

• Submit 100% of design by April.

• Advertise by May.

• Open bids in June.

• Award a contract in July.

It also revises compensation in that these additional services are to be provided for a not-to-exceed fee of $52,200, an increase in the previous fees for a new not-to-exceed fee of $385,200.

In the event that such services are altered by a modification to this agreement, the client and ARRO shall, at the time of such modification, also agree to an equitable adjustment in the not-to-exceed fee.

Background

Takerer announced at last month’s meeting that Doug Kopp, a civil engineer with ARRO Consulting who had been the go-to person for the project, had resigned.

Mullikin said at that time that it was unfortunate news because they were almost there for the project that was years in discussion.

Farrell urged the board to have a conversation with ARRO and ask who was in charge of Kopp and have them “get on the stick and prioritize us.”

The township previously approved a professional services agreement with ARRO Consulting for the township’s sewer plant.

Kopp said in February 2025 that the north and south sides of Little Gap Road would be come low pressure.

Kopp said the users would be the same 28 customers who would need grinder pumps.

He said the system savings projection would reduce the cost from $15 million to $13.5 million.

Supervisors then gave Kopp the go-ahead to pursue converting that section from gravity to a grinder pump station.

Kopp said then the next step was to pursue permits from various state agencies.

The sewer project has been under consideration for decades. It gained steam under Carbon Engineering in 2022, but stalled. ARRO Consulting took over the project in 2023, but progress was slow as it waited to receive all of the CAD drawings from Carbon Engineering, not knowing if they would have to start the project from the beginning.

Carbon wouldn’t release all of their work because of a payment discrepancy with the township. By March of 2024, ARRO was getting the CAD files it needed.

In March 2024 the professional services agreement was expected to cost the township $103,000.