Hazleton City Authority Approves Over $1M in Funding and Rate Lock Deal

The Hazleton City Authority (HCA) has approved over $1 million in invoices and project funding to cover PENNVest loan payments, water system improvements, and natural gas expenses. The meeting saw a packed agenda with more than double the usual number of resolutions. One notable approval was for an approximately $400,000 payment towards HCA's PENNVest loan principal, which is part of regular weekly invoices.

According to Joseph Zeller, chairman of the HCA board, this payment is 'another example of what's being covered by the August rate increases.' The authority also approved another $490,900 for services contracted by the authority. A fifth of this amount will go to MDA Engineering for Geographical Information System Services, while the rest will be used for USG Water Solutions' work on the Derringer water tank.

The board further moved to approve a natural gas rate lock deal with NRG Business and Consulting LLC, which is expected to save the authority $20,000 every year over the next three years. Zeller explained that this deal will 'save the authority $60,000 in savings by the end of the contract compared to the next best offer.'