Penalties could be imposed for College Township odor facility project that’s months behind schedule
The University Area Joint Authority’s new odor control facility is more than 200 days behind schedule, and with resident complaints building, the project contractor could face penalties for missed deadlines.
In 2018, UAJA announced that the $10 million construction project would address a particularly unpleasant smell created by a biofilter that worked to reduce odors created by the compost facility. With an initial anticipated July 2019 completion date, the project deadline was extended to mid-October, November, January and now, mid-February.
UAJA received “unacceptable materials” last month, delaying efforts to complete the new system, but UAJA Project Manager Jason Brown said all necessary parts to complete the treatment facility have arrived on-site and are expected to be installed on Feb. 18.
But that doesn’t mean the odor residents have described as “unbearable” will disappear overnight.
Once complete, the new facility will include a completely contained concrete box. The dewatering and compost facilities will be piped to the new facility. Once the air has been deodorized, it will be sent through an exhaust tower and released into the atmosphere, but the system will need to run for a few weeks for the biological process to begin.
“It’s a process, and it will take time. It’s not like flipping a switch and everything turns off,” Brown said. “We should see improvement day by day.”
Project delays were the result of weather conditions and material delivery problems. The construction company, Global Heavy, has faced a number of challenges while working to complete the project and could face financial penalties due to the missed deadlines, but members of the College Township Council think UAJA should push for more than monetary incentives.
In June, UAJA Executive Director Cory Miller said the contract with Global Heavy allows for UAJA to seek liquidated damages caused by project delays. UAJA will decide whether to pursue those after the project is completed.
During last month’s council meeting, members discussed the ongoing odor control project and said that assessing liquidated damages is a difficult process. Council member Eric Bernier suggested that UAJA negotiate an agreement that would help “compensate those in closest proximity to the project.”
In a letter sent by Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh to UAJA board members Dave Lapinski and Walt Ebaugh, the township suggested UAJA consider pushing for new play equipment to be installed in the Penn Hills Park or toward another project that would add value to the community.
UAJA board meeting minutes report that there were 23 odor complaints in December and 16 reported complaints at its Jan. 15 meeting.
George Brown, a College Township resident, described the smell as “disgusting.” Having put up with the odor for years, Brown said he has been frustrated by the delays and added that his grandchildren have had to leave visits to his house early in order to escape the smell.
“About a week ago, I was in Walmart, in the middle of the store, and you could smell it in there,” he said. “I have grandkids that come here all the time, and they are 7, 9 and 12. One of them has asthma, and it’s just disgusting.”
