Town Highway Department Shorthanded As Plow Season Begins
by Alex Brooks
Petersburgh Supervisor Alan Webster began the December 17 Town Board meeting by telling anyone who didn’t know already that Petersburgh Highway Superintendent Ray Harrison had a heart attack on Saturday December 15. Webster said Harrison came home on Monday, but has a period of recuperation in front of him and will not be able to return to work for at least a month, and most probably longer than that.
The Board passed a resolution appointing Adam Beaudry as Deputy Highway Superintendent. Webster said Beaudry is the Highway worker who has been there the longest, although according to Webster Beaudry has worked there for just four months. With snow plowing season just beginning, Webster said “The Highway Department is concerned about their responsibilities” without Harrison’s participation or leadership, but they are resolved to carry on as best they can without him.
Water Grant
Webster said he has been talking regularly with a number of people about getting the water project launched. He said the Town’s engineer and environmental attorney have recommended a company called Municipal Solutions for management of this grant. He said they have a good reputation and come highly recommended, so the Town is considering hiring them to manage the grant, take care of paperwork, and do all the detailed communication with the State that will be needed to keep things running smoothly. Webster said he hopes to get some of the people involved in the water project planning to come to the January Town Board meeting and talk to the Board about how plans are developing.
Water Superintendent Ben Krahforst said he has learned that Petersburgh will not qualify for low interest financing for whatever portion of this grant needs to be bonded and paid by the Water District ratepayers. He said the State has a points system that determines eligibility for reduced rate loans. To get 0% financing one needs 105 points, and to get reduced rate financing one needs 80 points, and Petersburgh had 50 points. Krahforst did not have at this time detailed information on how the points system works, but he said he would try to learn more about it.
Krahforst also said the “Emerging Contaminants” grant had been submitted. This is a $30,000 project to explore options for a new water source for the District, to be funded by a $25,000 planning grant from the State if the application is successful.
The Board received a request from Bill Alston to remove the water meter which formerly served 91 Dayfoot Road from the Water District’s billing, because the meter no longer exists, and the house that it used to serve no longer exists. Apparently Alston has bought that property, taken down the house, and combined the lot with his own – so there is now just one lot and one house, and Alston would like to have just one water bill.
The Board acknowledged that Alston’s request is very reasonable, but is concerned about the shrinking number of ratepayers in the Water District. There are about 75 ratepayers in the District, which is a rather small number for an organization that is in the process of undertaking a $1.3 million dollar renovation.
At this point Water District Superintendent Ben Krahforst jumped in to say this raises an issue that should be brought up, which is that he feels Water District rates are too low. He began citing what ratepayers are paying annually in some neighboring towns and villages, noting that they are all higher than Petersburgh except Berlin, which is even lower than Petersburgh. Supervisor Webster said he too has been looking at water rates in neighboring towns and there will probably have to be a discussion about that sometime in the near future, but he steered the conversation back to the question at hand, which was whether to remove the meter which formerly served 91 Dayfoot Road from the Water District’s billing rolls, and allow Alston to pay just one water bill. The Board agreed to do that, and passed a resolution to eliminate that meter.
Dog Officer
Webster said the Town has received quite a few applications for its vacant Dog Control Officer position, although very few have relevant experience or expertise, and many are from quite far away. The Board is hoping to find someone who lives nearby and if possible, someone with some relevant experience. He asked members of the Board to join him in winnowing down the applicant pool to the best candidates and setting up some interviews. The question was raised of whether there is training available in the event that the Town wants to hire an applicant with no experience. Webster said he would look into what training may be available.
Ashby Event
The Town received a request from State Assemblyman Jake Ashby to hold what he calls a “mobile office” in the Petersburgh Town Hall on Saturday, February 7. Ashby will come to Petersburgh that day and listen to the concerns of his constituents and have conversations with citizens about whatever they would like to discuss. The Board approved Ashby’s use of the building that day.
Christmas Party
Town Clerk Deidra Michaels said a very large number of people came to the Town Christmas Party on Saturday December 15, and 96 kids were given Christmas presents. Ryan Hubbard played Santa Claus, and Craig Levesque was the Conductor. Petersburgh Town Justice Richard Snyder played The Bum. There were 7 elves, and a large contingent of volunteers who made everything happen. Michaels said next year the theme will be “The Grinch.”