A Game Plan For The Water System
by Alex Brooks
Petersburgh Supervisor Alan Webster said he, Councilman Dennis Smith and Water District Superintendent Ben Krahforst met with people from DEC, The State and County Departments of Health, and the Environmental Facilities Corporation to discuss repairs and improvements needed to the Petersburgh Water system, and how to fund them.
[private]The Town’s environmental attorney Kevin Young was there, and Webster said Young is drafting a letter to DEC and NYSDOH to summarize the Town water system’s needs and seek funding to address those needs.
A February 6 inspection of the water system by Rich Elder from the County Health Department and Rob Swider from the State Health Department found quite a few violations and deficiencies, and the Town has been scrambling since then to formulate a plan to fix all the problems.
A boil water order was in effect from January 26 when the GAC filter system was brought online and Well #2 had to be used despite being in violation of County Health standards. This order was lifted after Gould Water Wells extended the well casing above ground and put a proper well cap on it. Taconic paid for this work. Well 2 still needs to have a “pitless unit” installed and the pit to be filled in.
Well #2 is now the only usable well, and has no backup, because Wells 5 and 6 have been declared unsafe to use by the County Department of Health until they are inspected by a certified well company. Krahforst’s report said that even if they are repaired and found safe to use they may not draw enough water to maintain adequate flow rates for the carbon filtration system, which requires a flow rate of 25 gallons per minute. The water tank also needs to be cleaned, and it needs a new bubbler before next winter. A long-term solution to all of these problems has yet to be worked out, as is the question of how repairs and improvements will be funded.
New Library Director
The Board approved the Library Board’s choice for new Director, Melissa Lockett, who will replace long-time Library Director Sharon Hodges, who will be retiring in April. Supervisor Alan Webster thanked Hodges for her long and distinguished service as Library Director, and welcomed Lockett aboard as the Library’s new leader. The Board also approved the appointment of Mary Lou Hunt to the Library Board to replace Lockett as Trustee.
Highway
The Board agreed to meet with the Town Highway workers the first week in April. The meeting’s agenda was not specified. The Board discussed allowing the Highway Department to use Election Day, Martin Luther King Day, and President’s Day as floating holidays, meaning the workers would not necessarily take the day off on the holiday, but could take it off on some other day instead. The idea is that these winter holidays often have snow to plow, so the men are working on the holiday and then taking time off at another time. The Board had many questions about this proposal, from legal concerns to details of how it will work, and the Board tabled it so they can do more research and talk with the Highway crew about it.
Broadband
Webster said Fairpoint has received a grant to bring broadband to some houses and businesses in Petersburgh, and he has been seeking to learn more about the program that is making the grants. He spoke to Stephentown Supervisor Larry Eckhardt, and he planned to schedule a meeting with Stephentown Councilman Gerry Robinson, who has been very active on the broadband issue. Councilwoman Amy Schaaphok agreed to join this meeting and help research the issue. There is another round of funding coming up, and Webster wanted to maximize Petersburgh’s participation so as to make broadband available to as many residents as possible.
Unfinished Business
Webster said the Board authorized putting in two mini-splits in the Town Hall in order to save money on heating, but only one was installed. The idea was to use the mini-splits to heat the offices occupied by the Supervisor, Town Clerk, Bookkeeper and secretaries during the shoulder season when heating demands are not that great, and this would allow them to turn down the main heating system and save money. But now there are offices downstairs being actively used, so the heat cannot be turned down. Webster said he would talk to Ziggie and Town Bookkeeper Charles Guntner to learn more about whether the money for the other mini split is still in the budget and whether the plan to install it still makes sense.
Webster also said he would like to “finalize the Constabulary Law,” which was tabled several months ago when the Board had some trouble defining the duties of the Constable. Webster asked Board member to review the previous proposal and bring their ideas to the next meeting so that the law can be finished.
The Board re-appointed Sherry Bowman-Kluck to the Youth Committee.
In Memoriam
Webster acknowledged the contributions of two Petersburgh residents who recently passed, Lenny Trezler and Gerry Cromie. Treadler served as Building Inspector for many years, and Cromie worked for the Highway Department for many years. [/private]