The Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority Board gave its engineer permission to design a replacement sewer line along Front Street in Coplay at its Feb. 19 meeting.

"The area is a problem and we may need to adjust the slope of the main to get better gravity flow," said David Harleman, CWSA's general manager.

Lou Bodish, president of the Coplay Council, attended the meeting.

"We have Front Street scheduled for repaving so we want to coordinate the effort," he said.

The project is eligible for Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) funds.

The board gave its engineer, Darryl Jenkins, the authority to start the application.

"We don't know how much we can expect in assistance," said Jenkins. "We know there are funds available, but there are other municipalities vying for those funds. We will only get a portion of the cost, but that would help get this needed project done.

"The scope of the project will be 1000 feet along Front Street. We are looking at the replacement section to be around the Center Street intersection. We will have some extensions off the main line beyond Front Street towards the river," Jenkins said.

Jenkins will prepare the detail and submit for bids. Bodish indicated that Coplay Borough would defer any street improvements until 2016 after the project is complete and has time to settle.

Chairman John Schreiner approved the cooperative effort.

"When we have worked these agreements in the past, we have saved money. We can get the improvement in and the borough can come back with its crew to the final paving," he said.