Published: July 18, 2008 11:28 pm      

Authority sues homeowners over refusal to pay tap fees

NORTHERN CAMBRIA — The Northern Cambria Municipal Authority is suing a dozen Susquehanna Township homeowners who have refused to tap in and pay the associated fee for an $8.5 million water line extension.

About 170 households were expected to follow the mandatory tap ordinance and pay the $600 fee, but twelve ignored the April 1 deadline. The pipeline extension was built a few years ago.

Solicitor Dennis Govachini filed the lawsuit at District Judge Michael Zungali’s office, and hearings are scheduled next week, according to court documents.

“It’s a financial issue,” Govachini said. “The authority obtained a loan for this project on the premise that all households would tap in and pay for the service, in order to repay the loan obligation.”

And while most township customers have hooked up, Govachini confirmed that some have refused to pay their monthly water bill. He said he did not immediately know how much money is owed to the authority.

Fred Kuzma, the authority’s chairman, was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

The refusal to cooperate likely stems from a longstanding legal battle between the Constitutional Patriots – township residents who were against the mandatory tap

– and the authority. The township adopted a uniform tap-in rule in 2003.

Members of the grassroots Patriots group contended the law violated their rights and complained municipal water is inferior to wells and springs. In November, the state Supreme Court refused to accept an appeal from the Patriots.