A Coplay resident asked the authority permission to connect the public sewer along North Front Street.

The request was made at the Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority's meeting May 14.

The property is landlocked and part of a twin that sits off the road near the former General Supply site.

There are four parcels in a jigsaw style configuration in the subject area. There is an existing, on-site septic system serving the property.

The other half of the twin is serviced with public sewer and has clear access to Front Street.

Manager David Harleman showed a visual of the area as he explained the situation.

"The homeowner is proposing to install a grinder pump and a pressured line along an egress right-of-way which would pump sewage up to a gravity-fed lateral that would connect to the main line along Front Street," he said.

Solicitor Jack Stover expressed his concern that the ingress/egress right-of-way did not grant the homeowner utility access.

According to Stover and Harleman, if the homeowner was able to get a right-of-way, there would be no objection from the authority.

"We would have a gravity feed to the main line which is what we normally expect," said Harleman.

Stover asked that the deed be modified to show that the homeowner has responsibility for the grinder pump and the pressure line from the house to the main sewer connection.

Board member Joseph Marx asked the authority's engineer, Darryl Jenkins, to investigate repairs to Essroc Road. The road was repaired as part of the Coplay Creek Interceptor project, but the rebuilt road was not deemed acceptable.

Marx reported at last month's meeting that the road was spalling. The cause of the spalling remains undetermined, but the roadway was patched. The patch, according to Marx, is unacceptable.

"We spent a lot of money to get this road fixed and we deserve something better," he said.

As part of authority's annual review, the board took action on a request by its Workmen's Compensation insurer to establish a safety committee with specific guidelines for action. Once implemented and with a record of compliance for six months, Workmen's Compensation premiums will be reduced by five percent.

Solicitor Stover reported that the authority is near to an agreement on billing disputes with the Allentown wastewater treatment plant. Stover expects to release the resolution's details in the near future.

Chairman John Schreiner announced that the board will meet with Whitehall Township Commissioners on May 19 to continue their on-going dialogue on extending public sewer to additional areas in the township.