Village of Hoosick Falls Board Meeting – Public Hearing On New Water Rate Set

by Bea Peterson
At the regular Hoosick Falls Board meeting on Tuesday, December 14, Mayor Matt Monahan announced that a Public Hearing on the Village’s new water rates will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday, January 11. The Hearing will be followed by the regular Board meeting. He said the rates will be available for review at the Village Clerk’s Office starting January 3, 2011.
Letters will be sent to the 40 households that still do not have water meters and to the 65 households that have installed meters that are not working correctly. If meters aren’t installed or working by January 15, property owners will be fined until they meet Village requirements. Some meters have been installed incorrectly, and some meters did not work. “We got an entire lot that was junk,” said the Mayor. In order to read the meters the Village must have the serial number of each one.
The Board approved the purchasing of testing equipment for the Water Treatment Plant. The equipment will check the amount of hydrochloride and other chemicals in the water in the holding tank so adjustments can be made before the water reaches consumers. The average daily use of Village water is 538,000 gallons.
Camera Use
The Board approved rates for use of the recently purchased lateral push camera and locator. The camera is used to find water and sewer line problems from a street to a home. The fee for residences in the Village is $75 an hour. For Village businesses the fee is $100 an hour. For residences outside the Village using Village water and sewer, the fee is $150 an hour and $200 an hour for businesses. It was pointed out that it usually only takes an hour or two to find a problem. If an outside company is used, the cost averages $250 to $350 an hour.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Dan Merrills is looking into the cost from NY Rural Water for a map of all the housing, curb stops, manholes and catch basins in Hoosick Falls.
The Board approved Water Treatment Plant operators Jim Hurlburt and Ryan Hemendinger and Waste Water Plant operators Dan Merrills and Ken Holbrook attending a series of classes in the next few months.
Snowmobiles On Trail
The Mayor, working with Hoosic Trailmasters, NYS Parks, HooRWA and the Greenway Committee, came up with an agreement for snowmobiles to use the Greenway in Hoosick Falls. They can use the Greenway from the old water treatment plant to the Mechanic St. Bridge from 7 am until 11 pm throughout the season, with speeds not to exceed 25 miles per hour. The Board approved the agreement.
Bids For Truck
The Board approved a request for bids for a new or used three quarter ton or better cargo van, 2008 model or later, with less than 20,000 miles on it to be used by the Water Department. Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, January 2, 2011.
The Board welcomed John Hickey back. He is recovering from major surgery.
Dog Tethering
Michael Hickey researched laws on tethering dogs, including how long they can be left outside and other requirements. Attorney John Patterson will look into other laws so the Village can incorporate the best parts into the law they already have on the books regarding dogs. A Public Hearing for the law changes will be held in February.
Voting Machines
The Mayor reported that Villages are not eligible to use the new voting process until 2012. The Village will check with Hoosick Falls Central School to see if they can borrow their voting machines for the March 2011 election.
Transfer Station Closed
The Transfer Station will be closed the Saturdays of Christmas and New Year.