Blakeslee Sewer Project

Contact | Assessments | Tapping Fees & User Charge
Guidelines For Calculating Fees | Area Map

In July 1997, construction began on a wastewater collection and treatment system in the Blakeslee Village Section of Tobyhanna Township. Areas scheduled to be connected to the system include Greenwood Acres, Camelot Forest, Old Farm Estates, Pocohanna Cabin Colony and portions of State Routes 940 and 115 (see map). The system will initially serve 560 Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU's) and cost approximately $8.8 million to construct. The Project is being financed through the issuance of bonds from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority and the Emmaus General Authority (PLGIT).

Residents living within the sewer service area should be aware that the regulations governing connection requirements and payment fees have been established in Township Ordinances 382 and 383 and revised by Ordinances 402 & 403. They are available at the Township Building for public inspection . These Ordinances were passed by the Board of Supervisors in April 1997, and are available at the Township Building for public inspection. A summary of the pertinent information regarding connection and fee requirements is included below for review.

Contact Information

Municipal Sewer Authority
Utility Billing Office
HC 89 Box 288
Pocono Pines, PA 18350
(570) 646-5803
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

e-mail: msa@tobyhannatownship.org

Assessments (Ordinance #382, #402)

The assessment fee for properties accommodating, benefiting or abutting the Blakeslee Sewer System are as follows:

Residential Properties (improved or unimproved)

1. Properties not capable of being subdivided = $3,000 per lot/parcel
2. Properties capable of being subdivided =$3,000 per entire tract/parcel; once parcel is subdivided, additional assessments of $3,000 per subdivided lot will be payable as a condition of approval of subdivision/land development.

Where an Improved Commercial Use Property is being used exclusively as a Residential Use as of the date of enactment of this Ordinance, the initial assessment shall be $1,500. Upon any change on any part of such a lot or parcel to a Commercial Use at anytime in the future, an additional assessment of $1,500 shall be payable, and said parcel or lot shall be subject to any applicable provisions of Ordinance 382 and 402.

Commercial Use Properties

1. Improved Commercial Use properties=$3,000 per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) as defined in Ordinance 383
2. Unimproved but developable land = $1,500 per entire tract/parcel: additional assessments equal to $1,500 per EDU applicable to each proposed commercial structure shall be payable as a condition of approval of building permits and/or subdivision/land development

Assessment fees will be due within 60 days after service of bill has been made. Service of bills shall be sent to the owner or owners of properties by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. Property owners can make payment of assessments with respect to the sewer system have been paid in a timely manner.

If Paying by installments, the first installment is due and payable within 60 days after the assessment bill has been served. The remaining 4 payments, with interest on the balance due at the rate of 4% per annum, are due once each subsequent calendar year. A Municipal Lien will be filed by the Township as required by State Statue, guaranteeing payment by the landowner. The lien will be released after the assessment is satisfied."

Tapping Fees & User Charge (Ordinance #383, #401)

Under the tapping fee ordinance, owners of improved property will be required to connect to the sewer system within sixty (60) days after notice from the Township to make the connection. This notice will take place via registered mail. In addition, property owners required to connect to the sewer system will be required to abandon their current septic system as per Section 2.04 & 2.05 of Ordinance #383.

Prior to connection, owners must fulfill each of the following conditions:

1. Owners must notify Township Secretary or other designated representative their intention to connect
2. Owners need to apply for a connection permit (See Section 3.01) and;
3. Owners must give forty-eight (48) hours notice prior to the time of connection so all work may be supervised and inspected by Township.

Properties included in the sewered area are required to pay a tapping fee and a user charge in addition to the assessment fees mentioned above. The Tapping Fee is based on the date of calculated as follows:

For properties that connect to the sewer system after initial construction, payment fees are due at the time application is made to the Township to make connection.

A user charge of $680 per year is payable the earlier of (1) the date of actual, physical connection to sewer system, or (2) sixty days (60) from the date of issuance of the notice to connect from the township. User charges are per EDU. Section 5.03 of said ordinance lists the applicable EDU for the specified improved property. Certain improved properties may be addressed a user charge determined on a metered rate basis. This is done at the discretion of the township as per Section 5.04 of said ordinance.

User charges are to be paid on a quarterly basis, on the first day of the first month of each quarter, and shall cover a billing period consisting of the immediately preceding quarter. Owners of property that connect to the system during any portion of the quarterly period shall pay a pro-rated user charge for the balance of the remaining period.

Note: Individuals interested in learning more about the Blakeslee Sewer Project can attend meetings of the Township's Municipal Sewer Authority. The Authority meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Township's Government Center Building. Additional questions can be directed to the Township Manager during normal business hours.

Guidelines for Calculating Fees for Commercial
and Industrial Users In The Blakeslee Sewer Area

Annual User Fee

All commercial and industrial properties, excluding non-conforming residential houses, will be metered. The meters will be installed and owned by the Township. All businesses will be assessed a minimum annual user fee of one EDU (Equivalent Dwelling Unit).

For the purpose of the Sewer Project, those businesses which rely on water usage as their primary source of income (i.e. Laundromat, Car Wash) are defined as an Industrial User.

Industrial Users will be able to utilize 23,000 gallons per quarter per EDU ($680.00/year per EDU or $170.00 per EDU per quarter). Any gallons over this will be charged at a rate of $.01 per gallon. Example: The Car Wash, which was assessed at 3 EDUs, utilizes 110,000 gallons in a quarter. They will receive their quarterly user fee bill in the amount of $920.00. (170.00 x 3 + (41,000 x .0065) = $920.00

Commercial Users will be able to utilize 23,000 gallons per quarter per EDU ($680.00/year per EDU or $170.00/ quarter per EDU). Any gallons used over this will be charged at a rate of $.01 per gallon. Example 1: The Retail Store, assessed at 1 EDU, utilizes 23,100 gallons in a quarter. They will receive a bill in the amount of $171.00. Example 2: The Restaurant assesed at 2 EDUs, utilizes 11,000 gallons in a quarter. They will receive a bill in the amount of $340.00.

Tapping Fee

Improved properties pay $700.00 per EDU if paid by 11-01-98. If paid within 60 days after issuance of notice from the Township to connect to the sewer system the fee is $2,500.00 per EDU. The fee is $4,000.00 per EDU if paid after the 60 days of issuance of notice. (NOTE: The tapping fee for unimproved properties can not be paid prior to the actual connection to the system. Note: Additional EDUs created after the initial connection period will be subject to the applicable tapping fee at that time.)

Area Map