Work Needed On Water System Exceeds The Water District’s Means
by Alex Brooks
Petersburgh Water District Superintendent Ben Krahforst issued a boil water order for the Petersburgh municipal water system, to take effect as soon as the new carbon filtration system goes online and needs Well #2 to be turned on. [private]As we go to press, the exact time when the boil water order will take effect is not yet known, but Krahforst expects it to be very soon.
This is because Well #2 is not in compliance with Health Department regulations. It is in a concrete pit with a 5 gallon bucket over it. It needs a “pitless adapter,” and it needs to be extended above ground, and to have a proper well cap installed. The well has been in service in this condition for thirty years, but apparently because the water system is getting a lot of Health Department scrutiny because of the installation of the new filter, it was declared in violation recently. Since that time it has not been used, but in order to get the Activated Carbon filter online, Well #2 has to be used, because the filters must have 30 gallons per minute or better flowing through them in order to work properly, and Well #2 is needed to generate that much water. The well was tested for bacteria on December 30, 2016 and the result was non-detect, but Rensselaer County Department of Health wants Water District patrons to take the precaution of boiling water used for drinking or cooking until the violations are corrected.
This is one of several expensive things that must be done to the water system very soon. The other two are replacement of the mixer which keeps the tank from freezing, estimated at about $9,000, and the inspection and cleaning of the tank, scheduled for April, which is expected to cost in excess of $5,000. Krahforst said all of the work that needs to be done on the water system in the next few months may come to $20,000 or so. The Water District does not have that much money – at the close of 2016 it had on hand a little over $6,000. Supervisor Webster said he is seeking emergency grants or loans to cover these costs through programs of Rensselaer County and New York State, and he is optimistic that he will be able to secure funding.
Nevertheless, contractors will begin working on fixing the Well #2 violations this Friday January 20. However, Krahforst said it may take “a while” to get Well #2 fully in compliance with Health Department Regularions.
Both Krahforst and Webster are putting in a lot of time resolving these issues, and they are moving forward as quickly as possible.
Audits
The Board approved recent audits that have been done on the finances of the Town Court during 2015, of the Town Clerk’s financial activity in 2015, and of the Water District tax collection for 2015 and 2016. These were apparently informal audits done by members of the Town Board. There was no report about whether any irregularities had been found or what measures may have been recommended to improve financial practices in these areas.
In other business:
• Town Clerk Deidra Michaels said she had completed an application for funding to help the town with records management and to improve the records room in the basement of the Town Hall. She said she expects to hear by July 1 whether or not Petersburgh will get a grant.
• Supervisor Alan Webster said activity around the Town Buildings is increasing, and the sidewalks and entrances must be kept clear of snow. He said he had spoken to Dan Schnoop about taking on the job of keeping the walks shoveled, and Schnoop had agreed to take the job. The Board agreed that they would ask the Highway crew to clear as much of the parking lot as they can, and agreed to hire Schnoop on an hourly basis to keep the walkways and entrances to the building clear of snow and ice.
• Supervisor Webster said he and Charles Guntner have been seeking estimates from contractors to do some flooring work in the Town Hall, but they haven’t finished gathering information yet, so the matter was not ready for Town Board action yet.
• Tom Berry said Code Enforcement Officers and Building Inspectors have to complete their training within 18 months of being appointed. Berry said Craig Surprise was appointed as Deputy Building Inspector on May 29, 2015, so his 18 months have elapsed. Berry contends that the Town Board must remove Surprise from the Deputy Building Inspector position immediately because he has not completed training in the time allowed by law. Webster said he is looking into the matter. Berry had first brought this to the attention of the Town in an e-mail in the afternoon on the day of the meeting.
At the end of the regular meeting, the Board went into Executive Session with their environmental attorney to consider legal action against Taconic.