The caretakers of Charles Baber Cemetery in Pottsville approved a plan Tuesday to do $88,000 worth of improvements to the cemetery's stormwater system.
But before Charles Baber Preservation Trust can start fundraising and looking for contractors, the plan needs to be approved by the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority, the Rev. James A. Rinehart said at the trust's September meeting at Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 S. Second St., Pottsville.
"I vote in favor of it," Mayor John D.W. Reiley, one of the members of the trust, said at the meeting.
It was a unanimous vote. Other trustees in attendance included Rinehart, Norm Kauffman, Kurt Kovalovich, Joe Orlowsky, J. Robert Zane and Carol S. Field.
"Majority rules. So, the proposal is passed. Now, we can take it before the sewer authority for approval," Rinehart said.
If the sewer authority approves the plan, the trust estimated the project can begin in spring 2014.
The cemetery is north of West Market Street between 12th and 16th streets. It's managed by Trinity Episcopal Church, and the trust was assembled a few years ago to help the church preserve the cemetery, Rinehart said.
For two years, the trust was looking for ways to improve the cemetery's pond. In the process, the trust was hoping to reduce the amount of water flowing from a pond in the middle of cemetery into the combined storm water/sewer system managed by the sewer authority, according to Field, trust secretary.
In June, the trust commissioned WJP Engineers, Pottsville, to do a study, Field said.
WJP Engineers recommended the trust consider a four-phase project, which Field outlined.
- Phase I: Install curbing at the 16th Street entrance along with grading and ramping the street entranceway into the cemetery. The proposed curbing would direct the 16th Street and West End Avenue water runoff into two drains located on either side of the entrance. The estimated cost of this phase is $10,540, according to Field.
Field and other members of the trust suggested a change to this part of the plan. Instead of ramping the street at the 16th Street entrance, she said a trench could be dug across the road and a grate could be put atop of it. This system would collect stormwater and direct it to the two storm drains on either side of the entrance, she said.
"I think that's a good idea," Reiley said.
"Changing the curb is going to be a little difficult because the sidewalk already does sit fairly high," said Norm Kauffman, a member of the trust.
"We should ask WJP to alter this Phase I to do that, to put in a trough with a grate on top of it," Rinehart said.
"With some of these heavy rains, wouldn't we still have the problem of the water cascading over it and down in the cemetery?" asked J. Robert Zane, a member of the trust.
"Not if the trough drain goes right across. It gives you a larger area to drop into the drain," Kauffman said.
The next two phases would have to be done together, Field said.
There's an underground stormwater collection system on the cemetery grounds managed by the church, Rinehart said.
Over the years, sections of it have collapsed, Field said.
- Phase II: Reconstruct the inlets and existing drains throughout the property with connections to a new storm line that will discharge into the pond. The pond will be used to detain the stormwater and limit the amount entering the combined sewer system. The new inlets will match the character of the hand-laid brick gutters in the cemetery. The estimated cost is $11,200 for the inlets, $31,500 for the pipe and paving restoration and $1,250 for the head wall for a total estimate of $43,950, according to Field.
- Phase III: Clean, regrade and enhance the pond to receive storm water and beautify the area. A concrete wall is proposed with a raised weir outlet to control the water at higher levels and to increase the pond water volume and area. A low level outlet pipe and valve will be installed to allow for draining the pond for future cleaning and maintenance. The reconstructed pond will also have an overflow spillway for excessive water flow which will bypass the combined sewer system and overflow to the surface. This overflow will be directed to a lower retention area, a smaller retention pond. The estimated cost of this phase is $15,500, according to Field.
"How deep will the retention pond be?" Zane asked.
"It doesn't say," Field said.
"There might be some requirements if it's over a certain depth," Zane said.
- Phase IV: The existing stone gravel roadway will be regraded to direct stormwater in a more controlled manner. The stormwater will be directed to a lower infiltration/retention pond at the northern section of the cemetery. The estimated cost is $5,300, according to Field.
"The total project cost of Phase I, Phase II, Phase II and Phase IV is $75,290 and is budgeted at $80,000 plus $8,000 in engineering costs for a total estimate of $88,000," Field said in her report on the project Tuesday.
In a related matter, the trust has invited the community to the 15th annual Baber Appreciation Day, slated from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
For a "free will donation," the community can enjoy a meal of hot dogs, baked beans, chips, watermelon and water. There will also be a bake sale, according to the event flier.
There will be "Nature and History" walking tours at 3:15 p.m. The picnic will begin at 4:15 p.m. Pottsville's Third Brigade Band will perform from 4 to 5:45 p.m. and there will be a "Solemn Evensong Service" at 6 p.m.