Published: May 12, 2008 09:12 pm            

City of Princeton considers sewer system upgrades

PRINCETON — A first reading was conducted Monday of an ordinance that would allow Princeton to take the first step toward making major upgrades to the city’s sewer system.

If approved, the ordinance would allow the city to spend the first $500,000 of a future bond issue on the design of additions and improvements to the city sewer system. The Princeton City Council had the first reading during is May meeting.

The overall sewer project, which would upgrade a treatment system serving not only Princeton but the Oakvale Public Service District and the Ambrose Lane area outside the city, will cost approximately $7 million, according to Mike Saffel, general manager of the Princeton Sanitary Board. The upgrade will allow the system to meet stricter federal and state Department of Environmental Protection guidelines.

In other business, the council unanimously approved a list of street paving projects that includes 21 streets and three alternative streets. The total cost of the projects, covering fiscal years 2008 and 2009, will be $150,000, Public Works Director Kenny Rose said in a memorandum to City Manager Wayne Shumate. The city gets better price bids for asphalt paving when a bigger project is available, Rose said. Approximately 2,209 tons of asphalt will be required for all the projects.

Council members also unanimously approved a $2,500 allocation to the Mercer County Animal Shelter for the purchase of a new computer and software so personnel can document their work and transactions, Shumate said. For the past two months, Princeton did not have an animal control officer. The position has been filled, but during the vacancy all emergency animal control in the city was covered by animal shelter employees.

“I appreciate the effort and cooperation of the Mercer County Commission and the Animal Shelter, and I believe the computer system should help them in their mission,” Shumate said.

In additional business, new council member Chris Stanley, Ward III, was given his oath of office. Ward is filling the vacancy created when council member Omar Aboulhosn resigned in order to run for family court.

A new officer with the Princeton Police Department, Rodney Holt, was also give his oath of office.

        

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