New Pump for Rensselaer Street Station
Doug La Rocque
At the February 12 Village Trustees meeting, Mayor Rob Allen said the approval from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, allowing the Village to apply the remaining $30,000 from the Snow Street Grant to the purchase of a new water pump station to replace the current one at Rensselaer Street, is finally in hand. The overall cost of the new equipment is $90,000. Allen said the Water Treatment Plant Operators have made adjustments to this year’s budget, to provide the rest of the funds. The Board authorized the purchase at a previous meeting, and the new pump station may arrive and be installed some time in April or May.
The Village has been dealing with an antiquated pump station at that site, which has failed many times, and costs thousands of dollars in repairs annually. The new pump station will also provide the second part of the water pressure fix for this part of the village.
Sewer Project Moves
Forward As Well
The Village Board earlier this year rejected a combined bid for the sewer improvement project as too high, and re-bid, splitting the endeavor into two separate projects. At the Tuesday night, February 12 meeting, Mayor Allen reported the gamble paid off. The bids for Phase 1, the so-called force main, came in about $110,000 lower than expected. The Board approved a motion to award the bid to Peter Luizzi Brothers and Contracting, without objection.
Phase 2 included bids for a new pump station. The Mayor said these too have come in about $102,000 lower than anticipated. He wants MRB, the engineering firm handing the improvements, to have a couple of weeks to look them over. The board scheduled a special meeting for Monday, February 25 to officially award the contracts.
The bad news here is that fees for a project administrator to oversee the work will cut into the savings. How much of a bite, will depend on how quickly the work can be completed. It is anticipated to take between 8 and 12 months.
Woods Brook Buyout
According to Mayor Allen, the appraisals are wrapping up for those people who have shown interest in the program, and all reports should be in village hands in a week or so. The Environmental Site Assessments and survey work are also wrapping up, and copies of the reports should be provided to property owners very soon, so meetings to discuss the purchase of the properties may begin as early as March.
Despite the threatening weather, the Tuesday night meeting was rather lengthy, and time and space considerations dictate the rest of the report will appear in next week’s edition.