By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
PLUMSTED – The executive director of the Plumsted Municipal Utilities Authority (PMUA) said this week that the engineering firm T&M Associates has been directed to develop a final design for a sewer system that is being planned for construction in certain areas of Plumsted Township.
In conjunction with the construction of the sewer system, the Township Committee has asked the PMUA to prepare an ordinance to provide sewer service connections at no cost to property owners. The sewer service connections would be paid for by a planned redevelopment project in the municipality, according to the resolution.
According to the resolution, the PMUA is in the process of implementing a sewer system for various of areas of Plumsted and the members of the governing body want the PMUA to research and inform them of recommendations to provide financial assistance … to assist property owners with the costs of connections and related expenses in the proposed sewer service area.
PMUA Executive Director Peter Ylvisaker said on Aug. 16 that the authority’s commissioners and administrators have been discussing the connection fees for several months and will continue to do so.
He said the authority’s representatives will work with their financial advisers and with municipal representatives to come up with a plan to assist residents and business owners with the connection fee to the sewer system.
The project is expected to include a waste collection system, a pump station in downtown New Egypt and a treatment facility on Route 537, Ylvisaker said. The project has a discharge permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Ylvisaker said T&M Associates has completed a preliminary design for the sewer system and has received authorization to develop a final design. He said it is possible the sewer system could become operational in the beginning of 2018.
The goals of the project, according to a document posted on the PMUA website, are to eliminate inadequate, undersized and failing septic/cesspool systems; stimulate the economic revitalization and diversity of downtown New Egypt’s shops; improve the water quality of Oakford Lake and Crosswicks Creek; assist residents who have recurring costly septic/cesspool maintenance issues and/or an inability to sell their homes; increase township revenues without increasing school taxes; and increase town center property resale value.
In addition to serving current homeowners and businesses, the sewer system could serve an age-restricted residential development that is being planned by Lennar Homes in Plumsted.