As the reality of a new Wal-Mart begins to materialize in North Huntingdon Township, officials in neighboring Irwin are seeing red at not being included in the traffic study plans.

"We have been overlooked. There are two lights in their synchronization plans that are in Irwin Borough and we'd like to be included in these talks. PennDOT should have at least asked us how it will affect us. It will be sending more traffic onto Pennsylvania Avenue, Ash Street and Brush Hill Road," Council President Danyce Neal said Tuesday.

Neal said a letter should be sent to PennDOT informing state officials of the borough's insistence at being asked about the plans for traffic signals.

Borough engineer Lucien Bove said he should have been notified of the traffic signal changes on borough lights.

"Irwin's planning commission and the engineer were not given the plans for the traffic study for North Huntingdon. Adjacent municipalities should be notified of plans," he said.

Solicitor Alan Berk agreed the borough should be in the loop with the township's traffic plans. "You need to be apprised of the plan. Your engineer can request a copy of the plans. It is a public record," he said.

Berk added the borough could counter any traffic spilling onto local roads a number of ways. "You can make Ash Street one way," he said. "There's a lot you can do."

In other business, council took its first step toward tackling a potential $5 million state-mandated stormwater and sewer separation project last night.

Council approved a $27,995 bid from State Pipe Services of Cranberry Township, Butler County, to videotape and clean the lines.

The contract is part of an estimated $1.6 million price tag for phase one of a three-phase project, Bove said.

The borough will apply for a PennVEST loan to cover the first phase of the project, which includes separating lines in the first and second wards along Pennsylvania Avenue between Main Street and Cedar Street.

Berk asked Bove to calculate whether the borough's 2-mill real estate tax increase and the sewer rate hike will cover the payments on the loan.

"We need to make sure council will have the projected funds to cover this in the event we don't get any grants," he said.

Finally, council approved an amended 2006 budget in the amount of $3,190,693, up from the $3,139,553 package approved last month.

Changes in the line items include a transfer of $50,000 from the Special Grant Fund to the General Fund and an increase in the Sewer Project Fund from $63,900 to $110,000 to reflect the revenue from a 2-mill tax hike approved last month.