BUTLER TWP — Customers will continue to wonder who their sewer service provider will be in the future.

The Butler Area Sewer Authority board members at their Tuesday meeting voted once again to extend their confidentiality agreement with Pennsylvania American Water Company.

The confidentiality agreement is in place to allow Pennsylvania American to review BASA to decide if it wants to make an offer to buy the sewer system.

The board held a special meeting July 28, where it extended the agreement until the end of August.

The agreement at that time expired at the end of July.

Tuesday’s vote allows the board chairman, Paul Sybert, the power to add onto the agreement extension at his discretion, said Duane McKee, BASA executive director.

McKee said the board and administrators are still in discussions with Pennsylvania American regarding the potential sale of the system.

The board members also approved an advocacy agreement with their new public relations company, Ceisler Media and Issue Advocacy of Pittsburgh.

McKee said if the board decides to sell the sewer system, members think a professional media company should make the announcement and handle public relations during that time.

Gary Lobaugh, Pennsylvania American spokesperson, said any questions regarding the potential sale of the sewer system should be referred to BASA and that Pennsylvania American has no comment on the prospective sale.

The board also voted on Tuesday to install motorized door openers so that people of all abilities can enter the administration office on Litman Road.

That job will go to Allegheny Door Enterprises at a cost of $12,947.

The board also approved a one-year lease with Greenwood I&I at $17,600 to conduct a study on the efficiency of hanging trackers on the underside of manhole covers that will send real-time flow data to the authority.

The devices could help prevent overflows throughout the system and provide other benefits, said Evan Oswald, superintendent of engineering services at BASA.

The board approved an expenditure of $16,793 to Bauer Excavating for the repair of a manhole protruding from a stream near Volkswood Drive.

Half of the manhole has been washed away, but no creek water is flowing into it, Oswald said.

The board also approved applying for funds deposited over several years by Municipal Benefits Services, a health care trust that financially rewards authorities without extensive claims.

McKee said BASA officials will apply for $103,000 from its account to pay for future health care premiums for employees.

McKee said while health insurance rates have been stable over the last few years, they are expected to rise significantly in the next cycle.

He said the authority’s bargaining unit is expecting a 5% increase, and receipt of the funds would cover that expense.

Two months’ premiums would be paid by the authority, which would then be reimbursed using the Municipal Benefits Services funds.

The board approved applying for the funds.

“We’ve been saving for a long time and never used (the funds),” McKee said.

GARY LOBAUGH