2026-07-24 Council Minutes
MILLHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL
225 EAST MAIN STREET
P.O. BOX 421
MILLHEIM, PA 16854
(CENTRE COUNTY)
PHONE (814)-349-5350 FAX (814)-349-5733
REGULAR MEETING
July 24, 2026
Katie Blume called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM with the pledge of allegiance. Council members in attendance: Cecilia Gallup, Robert Zeigler, Beth Cottrell and Marissa Evankovich. Also in attendance, Mayor Nickelaus Engle, Denise Immel, Borough Secretary, Cim Besecker, Borough Treasurer. Absent Solicitor John Miller
Citizenspresent: Kathy Highbaugh with Michele Aukerman, Frances Krull and Jason Wert representing Rettew.
Citizens input: none
A motion was made by Beth Cottrell to approve the July 14, 2026, council minutes as presented, seconded by Marissa Evankovich. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Marissa Evankovich to approve the July to date financials as presented, seconded by Beth Cotteell. Motion passed.
Code Enforcement/HARB/Planning Commission reports:
No reports from Code enforcement, HARB or Planning Commission.
Employee Repots:
No report
New Action Items
Invoices:
A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to approve payment of invoice ZA82602928 in the amount of $4,699.00, to Sensus for yearly support contract on auto-read program for water and sewer, seconded by Marissa Evankovich. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Marissa Evankovich to approve payment of invoice #34644 in the amount of $4,646.50 to RETTEW for professional services rendered thru June 26, 2026 ($600.00 for engineer of record and $4,046.50 for dam inspection support), invoice #34645 in the amount of $15,912.61 to RETTEW for professional services rendered of the Mill Race Bridge replacement project and invoice #34646 in the amount of $12,111.00 to RETTEW for services rendered on equalization tank project. seconded by Cecilia Gallup. Motion passed
A motion was made by Marissa Evankovich to approve payment of invoice INV01100263 in the amount of $2,714.68 to USA Blue Book for various parts for water plant per Jodi Muthler, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
Invoice #130636 in the amount of $1,100.00 was presented from Buchart Horn for professional service render on WWTP equalization tank thru March 28,2026. Decision tabled until August meeting.
Old Action Items
Pool grant adjustments:
A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to approve the shift in budget for pool project by $355.00 as requested by grant analysis, seconded by Marissa Evankovich. Motion passed. As matching funds need to be based of total budget for project not grant amount requested, Penns Valley Penguins increased their matching funds to $25,421.00.
Water/Sewer work session:
RETTEW presented a snapshot of the condition of both the water and the waste water treatment plant.
The WWTP core improvements are 18 years old. A corrective action plan is required by DEP by September 30, 2026 with pending EDU connection ban due to organic and hydraulic overload. Overloads could be solved without major plant upgrade. Need to locate reason for overloads, could be caused by business grease traps, broken sewer pipes or sump pumps being drained into sewer system. Testing will need to be performed and inspections done to rule out these possibilities. Installation of an equalization tank would also help with controlling flow.
Anticipated wastewater capital planning needs:
Inflow and infiltration -plan to identify extraneous sources of flow to the WWTP
Organic strength sampling and potential ordinances related to enforcement or surcharge
Installation of equalization tank and related components
Replacement of facility controls and SCADA
Potential expansion of WWTP dependent on I&I and organic investigations
Potential repairs or CIPP ling projects dependent on I&I investigations
Range of Capital improvements for WWTP – $1,200,000.00 to $5,500.000.00
The water plant is approximately 31 years old, processes around 150,000 gallons of water per day and has the capacity to store about 212,000 gallons of finished water, storage tank is 30+ years old. It is not known when the last inspection was done or when it was last resealed. Structural deficiencies on the WTP tank and media replace are imminent. It is unlikely that the current water treatment plant can continue under PA DEP scrutiny or meet long-term filter performance evaluations. Long term boil water notices are a potential outcome.
Anticipated water capital planning needs:
Feasibility study to identify technology, improvements and alternative solutions
Full water treatment plant improvement project
Dam rehabilitation with required structural improvements and potential process improvements
Preservation of Elk Creek as secondary water source
Tank inspection and coating system rehabilitation
Unaccounted for water investigation
Range of Capital Improvements – $4,800,000.00 to $6,500,000.00
Need to start work on I&I reduction and organic reduction to reduce capital expenses at WWTP. Reducing these two items will keep the expenditures manageable and closed to the lower end of range if successful.
Begin active planning on the WTP replacement ad required improvements at the dam and tank. Not much can be done to reduce these capital costs, however, prudent planning and financial engineering can lesson rate impact.
Consider a consent order and agreement for combined facilities to improve opportunities for federal and state grant funding.
Meet with PennVest to discuss combined project funding to ensure combined rate impact are considered, not just one facility at a time.
Active responses to PA DEP to preserve funding recommendations to PennVest
Secretary’s report
HVAB Account:
Notification has been received from Central Penn Bank that this account will become dormant in August of 2026 and will be assessed monthly fees. A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to close this account and move the balance to the general fund, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.
Town Clock ZD renewal:
The town clock CD in the amount of $4,713.60 will mature on August 02, 2026. A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to renew the CD at the best rate possible, seconded by Robert Zeigler. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Cecilia Gallup to adjourn, seconded by Marissa Evankovich. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 9:40 AM.
___________________________
Denise Immel, Borough Secretary