ADAMS TWP — After being repeatedly tabled over concerns about an abandoned well on the property, the nine-lot Mandera Subdivision received preliminary approval at Monday’s township meeting, June 26.

“When we were here before you last month, you asked us to plug the water well,” said Steve Victor, of Victor Wetzel Associates. “We have done so, and we have filed the paperwork with the state.”

This planned residential development near the Cranberry Township municipal line has been at a standstill since fall, when residents raised concerns about whether an abandoned well on the property was a gas well.

Victor Wetzel Associates submitted a report in April by Core Environmental Associates stating the well was an unused casing buried on the property. The township directed the developer to open and plug the casing to settle the matter.

Township engineer Ron Olson said the developer brought a well drilling company in to complete the work in early June.

“They went down 57 feet and hit bedrock, and at that point they cleaned the well out and sealed the bottom with a combination of Portland cement and bentonite clay,” Olson said. “And they filled out a certification that goes to the (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) about what they did.”

Supervisor Russell Ford, chairman, reminded residents that the project was only receiving preliminary approval.

“This is going to go back to the planning commission,” Ford said. “If you guys have concerns with anything else other than what we’ve been holding them up for, then you’d want to take that up with the planning commission.”

The board also approved a resolution requesting funds for the completion of the Three Degree Road reconstruction project.

“When the township did the Three Degree Road project, the estimate was $4.5 million,” township manager Gary Peaco said. “Because of costs and COVID and whatnot, Phase 2 is well over bid, so we have the opportunity to go back to PennDOT and ask for additional money.”

Phase 2 of the project, which runs from the Mars Athletic Complex to Hammond Road, is $2.5 million over budget, according to Peaco, due to inflation following the pandemic.

Peaco said the township previously made an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation allowing it to request more funds to complete the project.

“If we don’t get the money, we have no money left to do Phase 3, and obviously they want us to finish Phase 3,” he said.

Peaco said Phase 2 is scheduled to begin paving next month, with the project being completed by the end of August.

“The goal is to try to get it done before school starts,” Peaco said.

Ford also invited residents to the newly-opened Adams Township Splash Pad.

“I hope everybody, during the summer and everything, has a chance to get over to the splash pad,” Ford said. “We’ve had a great, great first month.”

The township held a grand opening for the splash pad June 10, following a soft-opening late last month.

Located in the Adams Township Community Park, the splash pad is open all week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., weather permitting. Details can be found on the township’s website.

“I think it’s getting a lot of use and a lot of people are really liking it,” Ford said. “So, get over there and check it out.”