WILKES-BARRE — The city of Wilkes-Barre will receive a no-interest loan of $500,000 from Luzerne County for sewer repairs.
Wilkes-Barre’s “sewer system is in dire need of repairs,” according to a resolution unanimously approved Tuesday night by county council.
“We stand at a critical juncture where the health and safety of our community in Luzerne County depends on our collective action to support our county seat, Wilkes-Barre,” County Manager Romilda Crocamo said in an email to council members prior to Tuesday’s meeting. “The allocation of funds to address the urgent situation concerning the cracked sewer pipes is not just a financial decision; it is a commitment to preserving the well-being and quality of life for countless residents.”
The city has five years to pay the loan back to the county at $8,333 a month. The loan from the county’s Urban Development Action Grant fund will repair a sewer at Conyngham and N. Pennsylvania avenues.
“The potential result of this sewer break poses an immediate threat to public health and safety,” Crocamo said. “If left unaddressed, it could lead to widespread disruption, affecting homes and businesses near the damaged pipes. The repercussions of such an incident would be devastating, leading to increased costs for residents and further straining our local resources.”
The federal government provides Urban Development Action Grants (UDAG) to local governments to make loans or provide other financial assistance for development projects.
