Torrenum council awards $312,390 waterline contract, moves $250,000 to capital fund and hires water-plant operator

Torrenum Borough Council approved a package of infrastructure and personnel items at its regular meeting, including a $312,390 contract for a waterline replacement, a $250,000 transfer to the capital fund and the hiring of a probationary water plant operator.

The council voted to award the Triac Waterline Replacement Project to William Excavating for $312,390. Manager Dwight Bottle said the rebid returned figures closer to the original engineer estimate and noted a $51,000 county grant that will offset borough costs. “Our water lines desperately need replaced,” Bottle said during the discussion. The motion passed by voice vote.

Council also approved moving $250,000 from disbursement to the capital fund “to maximize interest as outlined in the borough investment policy,” with the motion moved, seconded and approved unanimously.

On personnel, the council hired Cameron as a probationary water plant operator effective May 18, 2026. That motion, like the others on the consent portion of the agenda, was moved, seconded and recorded as passed.

The council approved purchases to maintain water-plant redundancy, voting to buy two sump pump replacements at a total of $10,900 after staff explained backups had been failing and that replacing both pumps preserves the designed primary/backup configuration.

Council members also adopted three resolutions tied to municipal operations and asset management: Resolution 26-05 endorsing the county hazard mitigation plan (required for some grant eligibility), Resolution 26-06 authorizing sale of a 1999 public works dump truck (sale proceeds noted at $8,800), and Resolution 26-07 approving acquisition and disposition of multiple vacant parcels as part of the vacant-property program. Manager Bottle and Code Officer Anthony Brun briefed the council before votes; each resolution passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance:
- Approve April 14, 2026 minutes — motion approved (voice vote) 7–0.
- Pay borough bills for April 2026 — approved unanimously (7–0).
- Move $250,000 from disbursement to capital fund — approved unanimously (7–0).
- Hire Cameron, probationary water plant operator (effective May 18, 2026) — approved unanimously (7–0).
- Purchase two sump pump replacements, total $10,900 — approved unanimously (7–0).
- Award Triac Waterline Replacement to William Excavating, $312,390 — approved unanimously (7–0).
- Adopt Resolution 26-05 (county hazard mitigation plan) — approved unanimously (7–0).
- Adopt Resolution 26-06 (sale of public works vehicle) — approved unanimously (7–0).
- Adopt Resolution 26-07 (vacant property acquisition/disposition) — approved unanimously (7–0).

What’s next: staff will finalize contracts and grant paperwork for the Triac waterline project and return any required implementation schedules to council; the borough will also coordinate sale paperwork and use proceeds to offset costs as described in the meeting.