Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

Pittsburgh based, The Stark Group Inc. has filed suit against the Antis Township board of supervisors over its decision last month to deny them permission to use a temporary holding tank for expected sewage from a proposed project in the township.
“We filed suit last week to appeal the decision” said Co-owner Stephen K. Shaner. The Stark Group Inc. operates methadone clinics under the name, Alliance Medical Services, Inc.
The company is already operating two clinics, one in Pittsburgh and the other in the Johnstown area.
Shaner told The Daily Herald “the Pittsburgh clinic handles 350 patients, while the Johnstown clinic deals with about 250 patients.”
The company currently has about 35 employees between the two facilities according to Shaner.
The new clinic in Antis township will initially see about 150 patients and have about 10 employees.
“It’s in the hands of the engineers and the attorneys now” said Brinton “Rob” Simington, owner of the property.
He had attempted to obtain a tap into a sewer line owned by the Northern Blair County Sewer Authority. Right now, the authority is not issuing new taps because of a dispute with Logan Township over the use of the plant in Pinecroft.
The Stark Group Inc. indicated in legal papers filed last Thursday that sewage disposal needs are addressed in a sewage plan. The dispute between the Northern Blair County Sewer Authority and Logan Township stopped developer Simington from obtaining sewer service. Instead, Simington had planned to use a holding tank for the proposed project in Antis Township.
Supervisors denied the request back in early October. The lawsuit against Antis Township was filed in the Blair County Prothonotary’s Office.
According to the suit: The sewage plan submitted by Simington did address the sewage needs of the proposed clinic.
The suit also contends the plans are consistent with the township’s land use patterns and ordinances. The lawsuit also says the new development won’t violate soil regulations in the township or Blair county.
The use of the holding tank is permitted by state law, it’s also been noted that a business near the proposed methadone clinic is currently using that method of disposal for sewage.
The lawsuit now goes to court administrator Michael Reighard who will then schedule a hearing on the matter.

By Rick