Butler Area Sewer Authority treatment plant

BUTLER TWP — Nothing will immediately change for Butler Area Sewer Authority customers, even though the sale of the authority’s assets to Pennsylvania American Water is allowed to go ahead.

Duane McKee, executive director of BASA, said at a meeting Tuesday morning, Oct. 8, that the authority will move its monthly meetings to the Butler Township municipal building once the sale closes. The authority board of directors will have to vote to advertise the change of meeting location prior to moving to the new venue.

“I believe it will be at the same time, just a different place, the township building,” McKee said. “Once we solidify the closing date, we’ll have a vote to re-advertise that.”

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court dismissed an appeal Sept. 26 against the sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority to Pennsylvania American Water filed by Center and Summit townships.

The townships filed the appeal in December after the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved the sale in November.

Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler wrote in the memorandum opinion that Center and Summit townships had reached an agreement in August 2023, saying that they would not contest the sale, which factored into the court’s dismissal. Additionally, neither Center nor Summit filed written objections to the settlement agreement by the Aug. 21, 2023, deadline.

The sewer authority has been in a “holding pattern” since Center and Summit townships appealed the sale last year.

In December, after the townships filed the appeal against the sale, McKee said the board granted him the ability to adjust the meeting location, since it was not known at the time if the authority could still meet at the sewer authority office come next year.

On Nov. 9, 2023, the state Public Utility Commission voted to approve the $230 million sale agreement between BASA and Pennsylvania American Water; the proceeds will be evenly split between Butler and Butler Township, after the payments of debts and liabilities.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board of directors approved authorizing advertisement of a contract for a manhole improvement project on Morton Avenue for an estimated cost of $250,000.

McKee said projects the sewer authority is working on are transferable to Pennsylvania American Water, should the sale close while they are still ongoing.

“Depending on how the closing goes, regardless, we’ll advertise,” McKee said. “The contract is also written for a transfer.”