TyronePA.com

By now, many people may have read or heard something about new and costly municipal sewage treatment plant upgrades that are being mandated throughout central Pennsylvania by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) ostensibly to restore the environmental quality of the Chesapeake Bay.
The Borough of Tyrone wastewater treatment facility serves the borough and sewered areas of Snyder and Antis Township, plus Bellwood Borough, all in Blair County. The Tyrone system serves the Northern Blair County Regional Sewer Authority by means of a sewer service agreement.
The PA Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy (CBTS) is a policy implemented by the DEP as a comprehensive approach to reduce the nutrient and sediment contributions from the Commonwealth to the Chesapeake Bay.
This plan serves as an evaluation of alternatives to upgrade the Tyrone plant with the strategy, and will also serve as a supplement to the borough’s Act 537 Plan.
While the goal is laudable, borough council members are fully supportive of necessary and responsible measures to improve the environment. Many questions regarding both the huge cost and effectiveness of this unfunded mandate – now projected to cost Tyrone Borough residents at least $4,000,000 and cost all sewer rate payers in central Pennsylvania as much as $1 billion – remain unanswered.
The total project cost is estimated to be $3,730,000. Typical user fees are expected to range from approximately $31.20 per month to $42.50 per month (sewer alone) depending on the funding/financing of the project and anticipated power consumption cost increases.
Presently, there is no state funding.
Based on analysis, PennVest provides the most attractive funding/financing, and PennVest will be pursued. Based on the funding source (PennVest loan or bond issue) and future power costs, the range of possible user cost increases will be $8 per month if a loan is secured, and $18.50 a month if a bond is secured.
Kevin Nester of CET Engineering Services in Huntingdon and Tyrone Borough’s engineer said, “There’s no grant funds available; only limited low interest loans are available.”
Superintendent of Tyrone’s wastewater treatment plant Tim Nulton said this project is important to the state because it wants to get the nitrogen/phosphorus nutrient pollution removed from the river it’s going into and ultimately ends up in the Chesapeake Bay. But, he questions the validity in terms of sewer plants being the problem.
“It’s very expensive for treatment plants to do this and for the sewer customers to pay for it,” said Nulton. “We’re not so sure if they remove just sewer plants, it’s going to be a benefit to the bay, because they’re telling us most of the nitrogen/phosphorus is coming from farmland more so than discharge from wastewater treatment plants.”
Tyrone Borough Manager Sharon Dannaway is urging residents to show concern about this issue because it’s an unfunded mandate from the state, and other states around PA such as Maryland and Virginia, along with the Washington D.C. area, have provided state funds for the sewer plants in those states that need to comply.
“At this point, it’s going to fall on the backs of the rate payers,” said Dannaway.
She added, “Residents need to express their concern to their elected state and federal officials. The borough has passed a resolution in December and residents are welcomed to come into the borough office for a copy of it to send along with a letter to the elected officials of their choice.”
Even though Tyrone Borough has moved forward toward implementation of DEP’s directives, borough council has joined with the 34 municipal member Capital Region Council of Governments in approving a resolution calling on all of the elected state and federal officials to impose a moratorium on further implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy, until a state or federal funding source is made available, and until the effectiveness of the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort can be assured.
Fundamental questions that remain unanswered to write to state and federal officials are:
(1) Why are local municipal rate payers being forced to pay all of the $1 billion cost of these sewage treatment plant upgrades when this is a state regulatory mandate dictated without input from locally elected officials or local citizens and taxpayers – and other states engaged in this multi-state effort have enacted state funding mechanisms?
(2) Why is this $1 billion expenditure necessary, in any event, since it is only expected to reduce the targeted nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient pollution by as little as five percent and there is little evidence that sufficient steps are being taken to reduce such nutrient pollution in runoff from the major agricultural and forest sources; thereby defeating the intended goal of restoration of the environmental quality of the Chesapeake Bay?
Again, borough officials are asking area residents to voice their concerns over this probable rate increase. Please write to state and federal officials.

Catholic Schools Week is slated for January 27 through February 1 this year.
In honor of the event, St. Matthew’s School in Tyrone has a week filled with various activities planned.
Things will kick off on Sunday, January 27 with mass at 10:30 a.m. followed by an open house and registration for the 2008-09 school year.
Registration will be held in the Gathering Space until 1 p.m.
Students will dress up for the event, wearing their school uniforms to Mass. Following, teachers will be available in their rooms for the open house until 1 p.m.
This event is a great opportunity for new parents and students to meet the staff and see the school.
The public is also invited to attend. Take a walk through the new building and see what this Catholic school is all about.
Father Joseph Orr pointed out that the students at St. Matthew’s come from a variety of backgrounds, including many non-Catholic students.
The St. Matthew mission statement says it is “A Catholic elementary school offering pre-kindergarten through grade six to the children of Tyrone and the surrounding areas. Children of all faiths are welcome into our small, family-centered school environment.
“We believe that the family is the heart of our school community where we help each student grow to his or her full potential academically, spiritually and emotionally as they become a vital member of the family of God in our community.”
All throughout the school week, Parents are invited to have lunch with their kids from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Monday is Teacher’s Choice, Tuesday is first and second grade, Wednesday is third and fourth grade, Thursday is fifth and sixth grade and finally Friday is for Kindergarten parents.
Dress down days will also be held throughout the week. A payment of $1 will cover all dress down days. This benefits the Home School Association.
Special plans for Monday include a special guest, NASA visitor, Charles Zakrzwski at 9 a.m. A special lunch will be held for teachers. Everyone is encouraged to show appreciation for the teaching staff with a card or small gift. For dress down on Monday, everyone is encouraged to wear a mismatched outfit.
On Tuesday, The K-6 classes will choose a new book in the morning. Students will also recognize all parent volunteers. For dress down, everyone is invited to wear a crazy hat.
The main event on Tuesday will be at 1 p.m. when students will participate in a talent show.
Sister Duddy will visit the school and speak with students about her vacation on Wednesday. Also, for dress down, individuals can wear an item of clothing to display their favorite team.
Thursday is Career Day at St. Matthew’s. A few guests will share information about their professions from 9 to 10 a.m.
Everyone is invited to dress down by wearing attire emulating their chosen career.
Also, a visit to the Hollidaysburg YMCA is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m.
Finally, on Friday, it’s Movie Day. Students will enjoy a special movie from 9 to 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to wear pajamas for dress down and relax during the movie.
“This is a time in which we as Christian Catholics focus on our call to evangelize our youth and participate in our greatest evangelization effort which is our Catholic schools,” said Father Orr.
“Today, in our world, it is evident to all of us that our children are suffering the effects of a difficult society. We see in the Godlessness of our day, our children growing up without a sense of worth in their own lives and the lives of those around them.
“This is seen in the violence that is so often a part of young people’s lives and definitely comes across in the self destructive behavior of many of our youth,” Orr continued.
“Since ancient times those who’ve had the wisdom to see have realized a relationship with God is essential in the development of our youth. This is why Catholic Schools, a Christ-centered environment, is seen as such an important ministry within the church and this week we celebrate our involvement in that ministry.”

The Daily Herald is happy to announce the winner of the 2008 First Baby Contest.
Tara and Robert Martin of Bellwood welcomed Parker Grace Martin on Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. at the Altoona Hospital.
Parker weighed eight pounds, two ounces and was 19 1/4 inches in length.
Parker’s siblings are Noah and Jake.
Prizes for the Martins include: gift certificate from G&P Dollar Stretcher, gift certificate from OIP, $20 gift certificate to Sunshine Surplus, quality choice baby basket from Kopp Drug, one year subscription to The Daily Herald, dinner for two from Jethro’s, dinner for two from The Morning Star Family Restaurant, newborn photo session with a framed 8X10 from Victoria Isenberg Photography and a $10 gift certificate from Mac’s Market and “The Gridiron”.
Also, baby’s first haircut from Mane Street Salon, $24 gift card from SilverScreen Video, $10 gift certificate from Sheetz, assortment of DelGrosso pasta sauce from DelGrosso Foods, dinner for two at The Bull Pen, $25 gift certificate from LaScalia’s Restaurant, gift certificate from Thelma’s Cafe, two bags of diapers from Community Pharmacy, $100 picture gift card from Picture People, gift certificate from Mobile Inks and Toners, gift certificate from Jackie’s TLC For Hair, $15 gift certificate from The Scrapyard, two sundaes for mom and dad and baby’s first birthday cake from The Meadows, $25 gift certificate from Dorman’s Jewelry and $25 gift certificate from Kitchen and Gift.
Jennie Mae Gearhart is the winner of The Daily Herald’s “Guess the Weight of the First Baby” contest. Gearhart will receive a complimentary 13-week subscription from The Daily Herald.

A Valentine’s Benefit Dance is planned at the Tyrone Hookies on Saturday, February 9 for the Jim and Nikki (Golden) Lingafelt family who lost their home and belongings in an early morning fire on January 4.
The dance will be held from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with DJ Greg Ray.
Everyone is invited to come out and show their support.
Also, anyone wishing to donate monetarily can do so at Citizen’s Bank.
Donations can be made at any Citizen’s branch, in care of the Lingafelt Fire Fund, including locations in Tyrone, Altoona, Hollidaysburg and State College.