Infrastructure, Peddie Park main focus for LH Council
By Scott Johnson
LOCK HAVEN – Numerous infrastructure projects in the city and neighboring municipalities were discussed at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Mark Glenn and Jim Balliet of the city’s engineering firm Gwin Dobson and Foreman gave an update on the city’s $27 million project to improve the Ohl and Keller dams as required by the state Department of Environmental Protection, as well its exploration for additional water sources.
Glenn noted the DEP classified the Ohl Dam as “high hazard” and its current spillway does not meet current criteria by the Department of Dam Safety.
The city received a permit from DEP on Dec. 15, 2021 for various improvements, including a parapet wall to be able to put more water over the spillway.
However, that work will also include concrete rehabilitation work at the dam and a new terminal structure at the bottom of the dam.
Phase one of the project is the installation of the parapet wall and the concrete work required at the spillway.
The second phase includes work at the intake tower, and associated mechanical work and access.
Glenn said the city applied for a $5 million PennVEST loan on Feb. 2 with hopeful approval in April.
The second phase will involved a “substantial lowering” of the Keller Reservoir.
The next phase of the project will be work at Keller Reservoir, which, Glenn said, has its preliminary design work completed for review by city staff.
“Suffice it to say that the reservoir spillway will have to be able to take twice as much water than what currently exists at the existing spillway,” he said.
Glenn added his firm found “substantial fracturing” in the left abutment of the dam foundation.
“We have a strong feeling based on the feeling of professional geologists that the dam does leak and it leaks rather substantially,” he said, adding that will involve some drilling a grouting work to seal up the cracks.
The estimated cost of that part of the project is $15 million, Glenn said.
In addition to the work on the reservoir, Glenn said, the consensus from the firm and the city’s staff the city needs a supplemental source to be able to do these projects.
On that aspect, Balliet told council, the water in the Susquehanna River has a very flashy quality.
For other sources, the firm hired a hydro geologist in 2018 who found one of the best places to drill was Youngdale area off of Kenny Road.
Balliet said two test wells were then developed into production wells last year.
“We feel each well is capable of providing at least 500 gallons a minute, or one to 1.5 million gallons of water per day,” he said.
The next step is now to submit the testing plans to DEP and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission this spring with possible production this fall, Balliet said.
Those wells, he said, can augment the city’s water supply when needed, in addition to the two-year period the Keller Reservoir is off-line.
If money is available for phase one work at the Ohl dam this year, it should be completed next year. Balliet said.
Then, work will proceed to the Keller dam, with design taking between 12 and 18 months, he said. Funding could then be sought from PennVEST next year with work started in 2024 and completed in 2026.
Concerning the funding for the estimated $27.6 million in projects, City Manager Greg Wilson said if the city receives 30 percent in grant funding, the borrowing package would be a combined $19 million from PennVEST, which would be a total of about $750,000 annually to be shared equally with the Suburban Water Authority, through the 30-year life of the loan.
Regarding other capital projects, Tony Stopper, director of public works, said the work will include:
n Replace two water mains under Mackey Avenue in Castanea Township n Pave Race Street from Main to Bald Eagle streets
Pave Bald Eagle Street from Hanna Street
Replace two swing sets in Piper Harmon Playground
Construct a park and ride at Hanna Park
Solar panel help with the lights on the levee
Storm water in Sunset Pines
Wilson noted the city expects to spend about $9.1 million for projects this year from the federal funding.
“These are improvements not only for the City of Lock Haven, but for improvements for a lot of our neighbors that benefit from Flemington, Castanea, Woodward (Township), all the way to Walker Township in Centre County,” Wilson said. “There will be marked improvements that will be noticeable to people.”
In another matter, council approved on a vote of 4-3 a “reconsideration of Peddie Park,” at the recommendation of Councilman Doug Byerly.
It was originally discussed in 2019 for the recreational use only of the park, Byerly said. It will not affect the ball field in the park.
“With the demand the is nationwide for camping and RV sites, and with our area being more and more of a destination to come and visit, I think it feeds into the desire that all of us have to promote our area and to bring visitors to our county and our city,” Byerly said. “That’s where the development could come from a private entity for outdoor recreation use.”
Mayor Joel Long questioned how it can be done, given he and former Mayor Rick Vilello wanted to lease river lots in Woodward Township, but it couldn’t be done because of laws concerning private property rights.
Wilson noted Peddie Park is “purely public property.”
Voting for the motion were members Byerly, Rick Conklin, Steve Stevenson and Jeff Brinker. Voting against were members Barb Masority, Richard Morris and Long, who added he voted against due to the amount of staff time required.
