by Geoff Fox
The Town of Hancock has three ongoing projects being done with the guidance of engineering contractor RK&K. Company officials gave updates on all three during the August town meeting last Tuesday evening, August 12.
RK&K Manager John Cole and Associate Engineer Rhiannon Dodge from RK&K gave the updates on the pump station on Pennsylvania Avenue, the culvert on Pennsylvania Avenue, and the town’s new wastewater facility. 
Pump station to be built
Cole said all the permits for pump station on Pennsylvania Avenue are in place and has been working with Town Manager Mike Faith about getting easements for the station.
Those, however, are still outstanding before any construction can begin on the pump station.
Faith said there have been some property change hands over the last few months, requiring changes to be made to the easement files.
“I’ve already spoken to all parties, they’re willing to sign the easements,” he said. “That’s no problem at all.”
There have also conversations with the USDA and CDBG who are funding the project, Cole told town officials.
“Funds are still in place,” he said. “They’re ready to get this project started like everybody else.”
Dodge said the estimated timeframe for that project is about nine months.
The current station and gravity line will be up and running during the construction as new construction would be adjacent to that station.
“So no bypass pumping needed,” Dodge said.
Culvert near Food Lion
The second project RK&K gave an update on was the culvert on Pennsylvania Avenue near Food Lion and M&T Bank.
The line itself runs under the Food Lion’s parking lot, under Pennsylvania Avenue, and into a residential yard.
There had been some issues in the past with a collapse on the culvert, Cole said.
After an October presentation, Cole said the firm had to go back and re-permit the project through the MDE due to a change in the reinstallation work.
RK&K had to reapply for the permit and it was just approved to the modifications, Cole said.
He added the contractor held the price from the previous job and all paperwork is in hand and finalized.
The scope of work hasn’t changed, but the length has. Instead of a two-month project, the new timeframe is two weeks of construction.
Cole said a new sleeve will be slip lined through the existing pipe and it will support the road over the pipe to avoid any collapse or washout.
Wastewater plant
The last project Cole and Dodge gave an update on is the long-awaited wastewater treatment plant.
The town and RK&K have been doing studies and designs of the facility for over five years now.
Dodge said they were still underway with the design of the facility and a meeting with town officials was scheduled for August 25 to go over the preliminary design with layout and components.
It also helps to narrow down how much the project will end up costing the town.
“Obviously if there are things the town wants and doesn’t want, that will impact it,” she said.
The location of the new facility would be before Universal Contractors on town-owned property.
“It’s just further up the hill than what we originally planned,” Councilman David Kerns said.
Dodge added there would be no impact to Universal Contractor’s property except for a shared entrance to get in from the opposite side of the station.
Cole said with the creation of the loop road, Universal Contractors’ entrance would also be the wastewater facility’s exit.
When asked when the final design portion would be complete, Cole said ideally, by the end of the year, depending how operators and town officials want to move forward.
Advertising for the project would happen over the winter months and construction could be begin this time in 2026.
A projected schedule could see construction lasting two to two and a half years to reach final completion.
