The uneasiness of Herman residents over the not-too-distant arrival of sanitary sewer service to their community is understandable. Being included in the service will mean a big financial outlay; there could be a tap-in fee of $6,000 or more plus a steep monthly service cost.

The fact that, at the township supervisors' latest meeting, residents were more concerned about whether or not they would be included in the coming service than which of two sewage system options might be selected was a natural reaction to what's at hand. Inclusion in the project will mean a significant jolt to a household's budget.

The two options being considered by the Summit Township supervisors are to become part of the Saxonburg Area Authority sanitary system or build a local treatment plant. A decision on which option to undertake is being anticipated for a meeting at 7 p.m. June 16 at the township municipal building on Bonniebrook Road.

As currently envisioned, creating a Summit sanitary sewer system initially would be significantly cheaper than a tie-in to the Saxonburg system — $10.7 million as compared with $16.5 million. However, there's the possibility that the long-term cost associated with the internal system might be higher.

Therefore, neither of the options provides an easy choice for the supervisors, although the supervisors said, regardless of which option is chosen, construction will begin next summer, with completion targeted for 2012.

The project aims to provide sanitary sewer service for 390 residential and commercial units, possibly including Summit Academy.

The importance of a decision as quickly as possible comes from the fact that the township can't apply for grants to help finance the project until officials decide which option is in the township's best interests.

One problem with joining the Saxonburg system is the miles of pipe that would have to be installed just to connect with that system.

Meanwhile, a Summit Township project could pose higher financial outlays for customers if there were a significant loss of customers — for example, if Summit Academy initially were included in the project, but later closed.

But facing potential sewage bills of $54 to $85 a month, regardless of which plan is selected, as well as the expensive tap-in fee, it's no wonder that the 150 people on hand for the supervisors' latest meeting were more interested in learning whether they would be part of the project than hearing which option the supervisors might be leaning toward.

For Herman residents, the sewage issue comes at a bad time, when they and other people throughout the nation are struggling with the effects of the bad economy.

Residents' hope and confidence must rest in the belief that the supervisors will make the decision that's in their best interests. However, in the days ahead, they should familiarize themselves with the two options so they will be able to engage in informed discussion prior to the supervisors' decision.

This Summit experience is one in which municipalities across the state have been engaging for at least the past 35 or 40 years. What is and will be unsettling to Summit residents affected by this project — and who might be affected in the future — is that, in many cases, others' sewage service likely was acquired at a much lower cost than what is possible now — because of the grants and loans available years, or decades, ago, as well as lower construction costs then.

Summit residents will be paying big time for waiting until now to get sanitary sewer service. The only question mark is the exact dollar amount for which they will be billed.