Derry Township is backing about $4.5 million in bonds that are to be issued by the township's municipal authority, in part to help fund extension of public sewers to the Derbytown area.During their regular meeting this month, the supervisors adopted an ordinance to issue a guaranty for the estimated authority bond issue of $4,455,000.Authority bond counsel Lisa Chiesa of Thorp, Reed & Armstrong LLP said about $1.5 million of that amount will be new bonds that will help to fund the Derbytown project in conjunction with a $1 million grant from Pennsylvania's H2O program.She said the authority also plans to refinance previous bond issues dating from 1992 and 2001 in order to take advantage of current low interest rates. The township guaranty will help in obtaining an even better rate."We're looking for a savings of at least a quarter million dollars" through the refinancing, she said, noting additional action on the bond issue is slated at the authority board's May 30 meeting.Authority Manager William Chishko said the Derbytown project is estimated to cost about $2.3 million and is expected to provide service for 77 dwelling units."There are failed septic systems there," he said.Chishko noted that a bank loan was not feasible to complete funding of the project because a lengthy term for repayment wasn't available."We want to keep the cost of service down when we get the lines in," he said.While taps have been allocated for the Derbytown project and preliminary design work is completed, Chishko said the authority must obtain a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection."I suspect we'll break ground late this year," Chishko said of the project, which includes installation of a pump station. He said construction should take about a year to complete.In other business, the supervisors awarded contracts for road materials to several low bidders: Hanson Aggregates BMC Inc. of Connellsville for various grades of aggregate stone; Derry Stone & Lime Co. of Latrobe for anti-skid material; Derry Construction Co. of Derry, HEI-WAY LLC of Sarver and Russell Standard Corp. of Mars for various paving materials.The supervisors agreed to hire part-time summer recreation employees as needed at hourly rates ranging between $7.45 and $7.85, plus mileage. Supervisor Dave Slifka said the township may consider hiring about half a dozen workers for its recreation program.

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