Warren's sewer utility projects, explained

Treatment plant and generator

The treatment plant is called Stage IV in the record. On December 11, 2025, Resolution 2025-301 awarded PS&S engineering services for the Stage IV Wastewater Treatment Plant Generator Replacement project for an amount not exceeding $65,000. This was under a proposal dated October 23, 2025.

The construction money came in 2026. Ordinance 26-18, introduced May 14, 2026 by a 5–0 roll call, appropriated $880,000 and authorized $880,000 in bonds or notes for ‘Acquisition and Installation of a Generator for the Sewer Utility.’ The Committee adopted it June 18, 2026, 5–0, after a public hearing with no comments. Administrator Mark Krane explained that the sewer utility is self-liquidating, so no down payment was required, unlike the $390,000 DPW truck bond (Ordinance 26-17, $370,000 in bonds) adopted the same night.

The record does not state the project’s total cost beyond the $880,000 appropriation. It also does not include a construction contract or a completion date. On October 22, 2026, the agenda listed Resolution 2026-269. This resolution was for PS&S professional engineering services for a ‘Stage IV WWTP Emergency Generator Update.’ The records reviewed do not say whether this is the same project or a different one. It is also unclear if it is a further scope or a separate project. LocalWhy has not reviewed minutes for that meeting.

Pumps and force-main repair

The Stiles Road pump station was upgraded. On December 11, 2025, Resolution 2025-297 awarded the upgrade to Rapid Pump & Meter Service Co. of Paterson. The contract amount was not more than $566,735.00. This was the lowest of seven bids. The bids ranged from Sovereign Consulting’s $581,250.00 to Spectraserv’s $784,200.00. Bids were advertised on November 2 and received on December 2, 2025. Resolution 2025-302 awarded PS&S construction administration and inspection services for not more than $74,500.00. The consent agenda carried this resolution by a 4–0 vote, with Blick absent.

A sewer force main broke on January 31, 2026, on Mount Bethel Road near Powder Horn Drive. Sewage was exposed and running on a public road, as stated in Resolution 2026-083. The resolution said the three sewer repair contractors listed under Resolution 2025-304 were called, but none were available. On February 19, the Committee confirmed the emergency authorization. They awarded Porchetta Land & Site Contractors of South Plainfield a contract for not more than $137,432.50 for work performed on January 31, February 1, and February 2.

On December 11, 2025, Resolution 2025-304 awarded sanitary sewer line repair contracts to the three lowest bidders. These were John Garcia Construction, PM Construction, and SE Rose Trucking & Excavating. Their combined contract cap was $150,000 unless the Committee authorized more. The rates were $6,080 per day plus a 5 percent material markup for Garcia. SE Rose and PM Construction had rates of $8,000 per day plus 13 percent and 20 percent, respectively. These rates were for an eight-hour day and a four-person crew. On October 22, 2026, the agenda listed Resolution 2026-273 to extend these contracts.

Nitrate evaluation

On Feb. 19, 2026 Res. 2026-086 awarded One Water Consulting, LLC a $15,000 professional services contract for a ‘preliminary nitrate evaluation-dynamic modeling approach’ for the Stage IV Wastewater Treatment Plant. The award followed a proposal dated Feb. 3, 2026 and was charged to account 6-05-55-502-6103. It appeared in a block of consent resolutions adopted with four yes votes and Croson abstaining.

The records reviewed do not include the study’s scope of work, its findings, a report date, or any follow-up action. It is not stated whether the evaluation affects the plant’s discharge limits or capital plans. No resident spoke about it in the minutes read. LocalWhy has not reviewed other records that may discuss the nitrate study. The utility’s operating budget and annual financial statements were not reviewed here, so the place of the $15,000 in the utility budget is not shown.

Rates and EDU requests

On March 12, 2026, under ‘2026 Sewer Rates,’ the recommendation before the Committee was that the Township not adjust rates for 2026. Administrator Mark Krane said average water use had risen, so the average user would see a slight increase from usage, not from a rate change. The minutes record no vote on a rate ordinance. LocalWhy has not reviewed a 2026 sewer rate ordinance or schedule.

Equivalent dwelling units were discussed on June 18, 2026. Sewer Director Christian Kastrud presented two requests. CRC Communities asked to transfer two unneeded EDUs from one property to an adjacent one. The owner of 513 Warrenville Road asked to reduce four allocated EDUs to one. Krane noted there are no rules or regulations on EDU transfers. Mayor Fine asked for a summary for further review.

On July 16, 2026, Resolution 2026-202 authorized the Sewer Department Director to transfer two EDUs from Block 86.01, Lots 31 and 32 to Block 86.01, Lot 30.01. The minutes do not say whether that transfer is the CRC Communities request. They record no action on the Warrenville Road request or on rules for future transfers.

Other utility contracts

Chemicals. On Jan. 22, 2026 Res. 2026-059 and 2026-060 extended contracts with George Coyne Chemical Co. for sodium carbonate at $0.6071 a pound and USALCO for liquid polyaluminum chloride at $4.86 a gallon, each through May 31, 2027 and capped at $70,000. On June 18 Res. 2026-164 restated the USALCO extension at $5.346 a gallon after USALCO declined to extend at the bid rate, with the same cap and end date.

CCTV. On Aug. 20, 2026, Resolution 2026-222 awarded closed-circuit television services for the Middlebrook sewer service area to PIM Corporation of 101 Wilton Avenue. The amount is not captured in the text reviewed.

Easement. Ordinance 26-01, introduced Jan. 22, 2026 and adopted Feb. 19, 2026, 5–0, granted MDR Equities a sanitary sewer easement across Township-owned land on Mountain View Road (Block 11, Lot 2) and the right of way, to connect the applicant’s property to the public system.

The Oct. 22, 2026 agenda also listed Resolution 2026-272. This was an extension of the SE Rose snowplowing contract.