Latest news with #ScrantonSewerAuthority
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Part of Green Ridge Street in Scranton to close for sewer tank project
Pennsylvania American Water will close to traffic part of Green Ridge Street in Scranton near Green Ridge Plaza during the next two weeks for work on a sewer/stormwater overflow tank under construction at the plaza, the company announced Thursday. The tank will reduce pollution into the Lackawanna River by 8 million gallons a year, or a 90% decrease, from what's called combined sewer overflows of wastewater and stormwater that occur during heavy rain. The tank project will require road closure and detours: • Both lanes of Green Ridge Street, between Albright Avenue and Ross Street, or between 120 and 220 Green Ridge Street, will close to traffic next week from Monday through Friday. • Single-lane closures then will occur the following week, from April 14 through 18. • The road closures will remain in place outside of project work hours. The work is part of a $15 million infrastructure upgrade that includes the construction of a new 780,000-gallon storage tank under construction at Green Ridge Plaza, as well as new valves, manholes and flow meters. The tank is part of the Scranton Wastewater System Long-Term Control Plan to reduce overflow events from the system that, when built many decades ago, combined wastewater and stormwater flows. The water company in late 2016 bought the Scranton Sewer Authority system serving Scranton and Dunmore and inherited federally mandated improvements to control and reduce the combined wastewater and stormwater flows from entering the Lackawanna River. 'The Long-Term Control Plan, which Pennsylvania American Water assumed as part of the acquisition, is designed to reduce the amount of overflows during rain events,' PAW Senior Project Engineer Matt Griffith said in the announcement of road closures. 'With this new storage tank, combined wastewater discharge into the Lackawanna River from the surrounding area will be significantly reduced by over 90%, which is a reduction of over 8 million gallons of discharge into the river during a typical year.' The tank project began in March 2024 and is part of a $189 million investment in the Scranton wastewater system to improve service and protect local waterways, the company said.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Candidates for Scranton, Lackawanna County offices file to run in May 20 primary election
Candidates throughout Lackawanna County who met Tuesday's filing deadline to appear on primary election ballots set up spring contests in several high-profile municipal races. Scranton voters will decide contested primaries for mayor and city council, as Democratic incumbents face challenges within the party and Republicans vie for GOP nominations. For Scranton's four-year mayoral term, incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan will battle for the Democratic nomination, while businessman Bob Bolus Sr. and newcomers Trish Beynon and Lynn Labrosky each seek the Republican nomination. Former Scranton Sewer Authority Executive Director Gene Barrett had originally announced a Democratic run in the primary, but did not file by Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. Barrett instead confirmed plans to run for mayor as an independent candidate in November's election. 'Looking at the numbers, with three Democrats in a primary race splitting up the votes it's to the advantage of the incumbent,' Barrett said. Bolus has run as a Republican for Scranton mayor before, but his status as a convicted felon precludes him from holding that office. In 2021, a state appeals court judge agreed with a Lackawanna County judge who removed Bolus from the Republican ballot for Scranton mayor, ruling Bolus falsely claimed he was eligible to serve if elected when he wasn't because of past felony convictions. Meanwhile, the makeup of Scranton City Council is set to change with incumbent Democratic Councilman Bill King not seeking reelection. There are three seats on the five-member council — those currently held by King and fellow Democratic incumbent councilmen Gerald Smurl and Tom Schuster — up for grabs this year. Schuster, Smurl and five other Democratic candidates — Virgil Argenta, Patrick Flynn, Frankie Malacaria, Sean McAndrew and Todd Pousley — will vie for that party's three nominations. On the Republican side, Marc Pane was the only candidate to file for a GOP council nomination. With four seats up for grabs on the Scranton School Board this year, six of the seven candidates who submitted petitions cross-filed as Democrats and Republicans, meaning they seek both parties' nominations in the primary. The cross-filing candidates include incumbent Scranton School Director Danielle Chesek and Joe Brazil, John Howe, Jenna Strzelecki, Mary Walsh and Julien Wells. Former Scranton School Director Carol Cleary is also running to recapture a seat on the board, but seeks only a Democratic Party nomination this spring. Incumbent Democratic candidates for Lackawanna County row offices will not face primary challengers this year. The only Republican candidate to file a petition for a row office was Sharon Soltis Sparano, who seeks the GOP nomination for county Recorder of Deeds. The last day to file objections to nomination petitions filed as of Tuesday is March 18. The last day for candidates who filed nomination petitions to withdraw is March 26. The primary election is May 20. Winners of primaries will advance to the Nov. 4 general election. Those who hope to appear on the November ballot as independent or third-party candidates can begin circulating nomination papers Wednesday. The last day to file those papers is Aug. 1, and the last day to object to them is Oct. 8. Some of the offices and seats that will be on the ballot in the May 20 primary election and candidates who filed to run include: Lackawanna County offices; each is a four-year term: District attorney Democrat: Brian Gallagher of Scranton Sheriff Democrat: Mark McAndrew of Mayfield Recorder of deeds Democrat: Evie Rafalko McNulty of Scranton Republican: Sharon Soltis Sparano of La Plume Twp. Register of wills Democrat: Fran Kovaleski of Scranton City of Scranton Mayor: one four-year term Democrat: Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, Bob Sheridan Republican: Trish Beynon, Bob Bolus Sr., Lynn Labrosky City council: three open seats, each a four-year term Democrat: Virgil Argenta, Patrick Flynn, Frankie Malacaria, Sean McAndrew, Todd Pousley, Tom Schuster, Gerald Smurl Republican: Marc Pane Scranton School Board: four open seats, each a four-year term Democrat/Republican cross filed: Joe Brazil, Danielle Chesek, John Howe, Jenna Strzelecki, Mary Walsh, Julien Wells Democrat: Carol Cleary Tax collector: one four-year term Democrat: Cathy Nealon Wechsler
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Scranton endorses city Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti in her reelection bid
Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Scranton endorsed Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti in her bid for reelection this year. In a joint statement issued by Cognetti's campaign, Casey cited her leadership in the city's financial recovery and her commitment to the residents she serves. 'Mayor Paige Cognetti has delivered the honest, responsive government Scranton deserves, one that works as hard as the people it serves. Under her leadership, the city has strengthened its finances, cut red tape for businesses and invested in public safety and our neighborhoods, all while keeping costs down for residents,' Casey said. 'I'm proud to support Paige for re-election because she's making Scranton a stronger, more vibrant city — a place where families can thrive, businesses can grow and every citizen can share in its progress.' Former Scranton Sewer Authority Executive Director Gene Barrett and former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan each have announced they are running in the May 20 Democratic primary for the party's nomination for Scranton mayor. March 11 is the deadline for candidates to submit nominating petitions. The winner of the Scranton mayoral primary will advance to the Nov. 4 general election. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti tells supporters of Senator Bob Casey that the senator would not be speaking tonight at his election night party at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple with election results too close to call on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.(Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer)
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Scranton School Board President Sheridan to run in Democratic primary for city mayor
Former Scranton School Board President Robert 'Bob' Sheridan announced he will run in the Democratic primary election for the party nomination for mayor. Sheridan is a second Democratic challenger aiming to defeat incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti in the May 20 primary. Eugene 'Gene' Barrett, a former Scranton city councilman and former director of the Scranton Sewer Authority, previously announced a run for the Democratic nomination for mayor. Sheridan, who owns D&S Auto Sales, 1202 S. Washington Ave., also is a former first responder, former city police officer and longtime president of the Dutch Hollow Neighborhood Association. 'If elected mayor of Scranton, I will fight for the neighborhoods, support real open government transparency and request public input on how their services can better provide for our residents,' Sheridan said in his announcement. The deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions is March 11. The winner of the primary would advance to run in the Nov. 4 general election. * Scranton Mayor-Elect Paige Gebhardt Cognetti at Scranton City Hall in Scranton on Nov. 7, 2019. * Eugene 'Gene' Barrett of Scranton, candidate photo for Scranton mayoral election in the 2025 Democratic primary. (PHOTO SUBMITTED / COURTESY OF EUGENE BARRETT) * Robert 'Bob' Sheridan, candidate in the 2025 Democratic primary election for mayor of Scranton. (PHOTO SUBMITTED / COURTESY OF BOB SHERIDAN) Show Caption 1 of 3 Scranton Mayor-Elect Paige Gebhardt Cognetti at Scranton City Hall in Scranton on Nov. 7, 2019. Expand
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scranton mayor to face challenge in primary election
Scranton's mayoral and council races this year are heating up with more candidates announcing intentions to run in primaries for party nominations. The window for prospective candidates seeking spots on Democratic or Republican primary ballots to circulate and file nomination petitions opened Feb. 18 and runs through March 11. Scranton mayor Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, a Democrat, earlier this month said she will seek another four-year term as mayor. Cognetti will have a challenge in the Democratic primary from Eugene 'Gene' Barrett, a former Scranton city councilman and former director of the Scranton Sewer Authority, who announced he will challenge Cognetti for the party's nomination. Cognetti won a 2019 special election to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Bill Courtright, who resigned under a corruption prosecution, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison. Voters then reelected Cognetti — the city's first female mayor — in 2021. At that time, she handily defeated city Controller John Murray in the Democratic primary and went on to defeat Republican Darwin Lee Shaw II by an even larger margin that November. In a statement earlier this month about running for reelection, Cognetti said she's honored to lead a city that's 'the heartbeat of Northeastern Pennsylvania' and cited ongoing efforts to fight utility rate hikes, enhance Scranton's historic downtown, redevelop neighborhoods, rebuild pools and parks, and fix stormwater infrastructure. 'Campaigns are about the future,' Cognetti had said. 'I'm excited to listen to residents about what they need and how they want Scranton to keep moving forward.' Barrett, an Army veteran, was executive director of Scranton's Office of Economic and Community Development from 1981 to 1985. He later served on Scranton City Council from 1990 to 1997. Barrett was chairman of the board of the Scranton Sewer Authority from 1999 to 2006. He then was the sewer authority's executive director from 2006 to 2016. Courtright's administration sold the sewer authority that operated the sewer system serving Scranton and Dunmore to Pennsylvania American Water. That transaction closed at the end of 2016 and Barrett then worked for PAW into 2018. 'To lead Scranton, you must know our history and demonstrate care and compassion for that history. I know the history of where we were, where we are now and how much better we could be. I have years of proven leadership in the public, (and) private sectors and the United States Army. There is no substitute for this experience,' Barrett said in a statement Monday. Meanwhile, city resident Lynn Labrosky also has announced her intention to run for the Republican nomination for mayor. 'Being a lifelong Scranton resident, my heart is set on serving EVERYONE in our amazing community — regardless of your political affiliation,' Labrosky said in a Feb. 17 social media post. Scranton City Council Three of the five city council seats also are up for grabs this year. The three seats that will be on the ballot currently are held by Democratic Councilmen Gerald Smurl, Tom Schuster and Bill King. While King won't seek reelection, Schuster and Smurl each said they will run in the Democratic primary for nominations to seek another term. Other prospective Democratic candidates intending to run for council in the primary include Scranton School Director Sean McAndrew, Virgil Argenta and Todd Pousley. That would set up a five-way race on the Democratic side — so far — for three nominations. Marc Pane also intends to run as a Republican for his party's nomination to run for a city council seat. The winners in the general election would join on council the other two members not up for reelection: Mark McAndrew and Jessica Rothchild. Lackawanna County races Other races up for grabs this year include the Lackawanna County posts of a judgeship, district attorney and three county row offices. Judge and district attorney: Earlier this month, the state Senate approved then-Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell's nomination to fill a vacant judgeship on the county Court of Common Pleas until early January. Powell then resigned as district attorney and took the oath of office as the county's newest judge on Feb. 7, when First Assistant District Attorney Brian Gallagher was sworn in as DA pursuant to state law. A full 10-year judicial term on the county bench and a full four-year term as district attorney both will be on the ballot in this year's general election. Both Powell and Gallagher will run for those respective seats. Lackawanna County Judge Andy Jarbola also will be up in the Nov. 4 general election for a vote of retention to another 10-year term on the county bench. Row offices: The Lackawanna County offices of sheriff, register of wills and recorder of deeds also will be on the ballot this year, with longtime Democratic incumbents seeking reelection: Sheriff Mark McAndrew will seek a fourth four-year term; Register of Wills Fran Kovaleski will run for a fourth four-year term; and Recorder of Deeds Evie Rafalko McNulty will seek an eighth four-year term. Independents Meanwhile, those who plan to run for offices as independent or third-party candidates in the Nov. 4 general election can begin circulating nomination papers March 12. The last day for independent candidates to file those papers is Aug. 1. Staff Writer Jeff Horvath contributed to this report. Scranton Mayor-Elect Paige Gebhardt Cognetti at Scranton City Hall in Scranton on Nov. 7, 2019. Eugene 'Gene' Barrett of Scranton, candidate photo for Scranton mayoral election in the 2025 Democratic primary. (PHOTO SUBMITTED / COURTESY OF EUGENE BARRETT)
