Commmissioners to Consider Capital Improvement Program

Of the $67.3 million that Upper St. Clair projects spending on improvements in the next five years, almost exactly half the amount is targeted for sanitary sewers.

Township commissioners are expected to vote Monday on a capital improvement program for 2013-17. A new five-year plan is adopted each year. The plan does not guarantee money will be available for all projects that are listed.

The cost of maintaining and repairing the local sanitary sewer system is budgeted at $600,000 annually. Also, $400,000 is earmarked in 2013 toward upgrades at the Brush Run pump station, a facility in Peters Township that serves the southern part of Upper St. Clair.

The leaves the bulk of anticipated spending, about $30 million, going for improvements to the system. The project is mandated by a 2004 administrative consent order by which the township must work toward complying with the federal Clean Water Act.

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is similarly ordered to make systemwide upgrades, the cost of which is estimated in the billions.

Upper St. Clair's proposed capital improvement program, which is available for viewing at the municipal building, notes that the $10 million per year from 2015-17 toward sanitary sewer improvements is “subject to funding availability.”

On a brighter note, especially for swimming enthusiasts, the program calls for a $3.5 million expansion of the indoor-outdoor pool at the Community and Recreation Center in 2014. With membership at the center rising to more than 10,000, coupled with above-average temperatures, the pool has been packed this summer.

Also at the center, the program targets $2 million each toward an auxiliary gym and locker room/fitness area expansion in 2014. An aerobic equipment replacement plan is expected to total $394,900 over five years.

Other notable items in the proposed spending plan, subject to funding availability:

Public building and park improvements ($10.9 million)

• Park and field improvements: nearly $5 million, including $2 million for field turf and light at Morton Field in 2014
• Public safety building: $4 million in 2017
• Municipal building improvements: $1,125,000
• Tennis bubble replacement: $550,000 in 2014

Capital equipment ($5,976,000)

• Public works vehicles: $2.1 million
• Information technology: $1.06 million
• Volunteer Fire Department fire engine and building renovations: $695,000 in 2017
• Public works replacement equipment: $677,000
• Police vehicles, as per five-year replacement schedule: $615,700
• Library: $97,600
• Public access television video and audio equipment: $85,000

Park resurfacing projects ($380,000)

• Hays Park sports court and walkways, 2013
• Tustin Park sports court and walkways, 2014
• Clair Park, 2015
• Hays Park paths and parking lot, 2016
• Baker Park tennis courts, 2017
• Municipal tennis courts, 2014

At Monday’s board of commissioners meeting, August Stache Jr., township director of finance, will give a presentation outlining the program. Commissioners will take comments from the public before voting on adopting the plan.