Residents of Seitzland, a village near Glen Rock in Shrewsbury Township, are seeking ways to pay for a public sewer project.

Early estimates put the cost between $30,000 and $40,000 per connection, raising concerns some people could lose their homes, resident Cynthia Taylor said.

"What is going to happen to the people on a fixed income? There are elderly couples earning 12- to 14,000 dollars a year who are going to lose their homes," Taylor told supervisors recently.

Project costs are estimated at $1.25 million, and it is thought 35 homes will be required to connect, but those numbers could change.

Several residents suggested increasing property taxes by as much as $500 and putting the money aside for the Seitzland sewer project and other improvements.

"Suppose we raise taxes by $500 a year to pay for the sewer system. How many do you think will vote for use again?" supervisor Ed Hughes said.

The tax rate of .074 mills, or $7.40 on a property assessed at $100,000, is one of the lowest in the county.

Southern York School Board in February agreed to turn over to the township a portion of the school district's sewer main as a way to help reduce costs for the Seitzland project. The township, however, will be responsible for paying costs to bring the line up to code and some residents and township officials say the school district should pay this cost.

The cost would be small when shared by all residents of the school

district but would probably mean an increase in taxes, Hughes said.

A PennVEST grant would help but the township must have all permits in hand before applying and the project design must be complete before permits can be issued, Josh Fox, an engineer with HRG, said.

LAST ONE

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in 1992 ordered Shrewsbury Township to extend public sewer to several areas where on-site septic systems had failed. The only sewer extension project that remains to be done is for Seitzland.