Council approves parcel purchases and borrowing to advance well-field and pipeline work; solicits bids for road phases

City staff presented a package of water-infrastructure and procurement items to the Lock Haven City Council, and council voted to move forward with purchases, associated financing, and bid solicitations.

Staff said the city needs to acquire two parcels to bring high-production supplemental water wells online as part of the Young Danner Well Field and pipeline. The presentation included two purchase-price figures given in the meeting: one parcel described as approximately 12 acres at $400,000 and a second parcel described as about 11 acres at $275,000. Staff said the purchases would be secured through borrowing and that additional borrowing would be needed to complete permanent pipeline installation. Staff also said proceeds would be used to pay down an existing 2022 C-note, which staff reported has an outstanding principal balance of about $1,700,000 and approximately $100,000 in interest due by the stated April 1 maturity date.

Council moved and seconded a motion to proceed with the purchase and financing plan; a roll-call vote recorded affirmative responses from council members and the mayor and the motion advanced.

Separately, staff asked council to authorize solicitation of bids for Sunset Pine and Stage 2 (Hemlock, which will be split into phases). Staff said engineers had completed the documents necessary to go to bid and that the city has an estimate and a set-aside in the capital budget to fund the work. Council authorized advertising for bids and expects to receive responses in the usual procurement cycle.

On wastewater reporting, staff told the council that the Lock Haven sewer system was inspected and is in compliance with permitted annual mass loads for nitrogen and phosphorus for 2024; the report was provided for council review.

Council discussion noted that financing and procurement steps would be coordinated with the city’s capital budget and that more detailed documentation would follow as contracts and borrowing terms are developed.