By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff writer
Oil City has reached an easement agreement with McDonald’s for sewer service in the future, if needed.
The pact was approved by members of Oil City Council during the panel’s bi-monthly meeting Thursday.
City manager Mark Schroyer said the fast-food chain pursued the agreement, which is a way to give temporary or long-term access to land without having to transfer ownership, in the event that it ever needs to tie into the sewer interceptor line that runs through Justus Park along the Allegheny River.
McDonald’s currently has an easement agreement with Norfolk Southern so it can tie in to a line under the railroad tracks on Elm Street.
Initially, Schroyer said the city was going to take over ownership of the line and maintain it per city specifications, but because the easement could lay dormant for years, McDonald’s will instead maintain ownership.
“Any maintenance or issues that line has in the future will be on them,” Schroyer said. “The city will provide help and any technical guidance.”
Schroyer said there is no expiration date on the agreement and there is a chance McDonald’s may never need to tie into the interceptor line.
A major renovation at the McDonald’s restaurant in Oil City was supposed to start up earlier this month and completed by Memorial Day, but the delay in coming to terms on the easement agreement has pushed the timeline back by at least a few months.
Schroyer said he was last told McDonald’s is now looking to start the nearly $1 million project around Labor Day.
When the renovation does get underway, Indiana County-based Max Construction Co., which has built thousands of McDonald’s locations, will be responsible for the work.
The estimated $971,000 project will include renovated restrooms, dining room and kitchen, plus fresh electric, plumbing, signage and roofing.
In addition, the parking lot will be modified to allow for a new side-by-side drive-thru that includes a second lane.
