Engineers Recommend New Pump/Filter Building
By Alex Brooks
In response to condemnation last month from the Water District Committee of the condition of the pump house and carbon filter (GAC) building, Cedarwood Engineering did an evaluation of both buildings. Since then they made a recommendation that the two adjoining buildings be replaced with one larger building.
The report found inadequate interior space and inadequate insulation in both buildings, and in particular a lack of code-compliant clearances in front of electrical panels. In one case, the overhead door to the exterior must be opened to access the electrical panel, exposing the worker and the panel to whatever snow, rain, cold or wind that the current weather brings. in addition, the floor drain in the GAC building is improperly installed so that it does not drain water off the floor, which often results in puddles on the floor. Mold has appeared on the interior walls of that building.
The report concluded that because of the extent of building deficiencies in both of the existing buildings and the severe problems with lack of space, the best solution would be to demolish both buildings and build a new larger building, 24’ by 44’, with adequate space to handle any new equipment which may be needed, which would meet all building codes. The current buildings combined have about 384 square feet of floor space, and the new building would have 1056 square feet of floor space.
Water Superintendent Ben Krahforst said the new building as originally designed was too expensive to fit into the budget allocated for this project in the Water System Renovation grant that is just getting underway, but he asked Cedarwood to spec it as a pre-engineered metal building, and although he did not have cost estimates in time for the meeting, he said he thinks the metal building will fit into the grant budget.
DEC Concerned About Wastewater
from the Water Plant
Krahforst said he had been contacted by DEC officials in January inquiring about how the Water District is handling excess water generated by its water pumping operations. Such water has always been released on the surface and run back into the Little Hoosic River by natural drainage patterns, but now that the water is known to contain PFOA, DEC does not want it to be released untreated. Two solutions have been proposed. One, favored by Krahforst and by the Water District Committee, is to have an additional carbon treatment system installed at Taconic’s expense to remove the PFOA from this water before it is released into the environment. The other, proposed by Taconic, is to install a large tank (known as a “Frac Tank”) to receive such water, and have Taconic employees transport it by truck back to their facility to be treated.
DEC has asked for a meeting including the Town, DEC and Taconic to discuss how this wastewater will be handled. Krahforst said, “negotiations concerning wastewater treatment need to take place very soon,” as operation and maintenance of the water system generates wastewater, and DEC must approve the way it is treated and released.
The Town Board scheduled a special meeting to discuss water issues for Monday, March 4 at 7 pm.
Krahforst also said the recirculation system installed last fall by Taconic to keep an adequate flow through the GAC filter to make it work properly had frozen up twice during cold snaps this winter, so it doesn’t seem to have adequate protection from the cold. He also said it has been interfering with the flow rate of Well 5, so that when both are running the well produces less and less water and eventually goes into “a negative flow rate.” He said Taconic’s engineers will have to look into these problems and try to correct them.
Supervisor’s Report
Supervisor Alan Webster said he has been out of the office a bit this month with an illness and some “heart issues,” but he’s back on the job now. He also said, “it’s good to have Ray back at the Highway Department,” and congratulated the highway crew on a good job keeping roads clear in his absence.
He said it’s time for renewal of the contract with Berlin for use of the Transfer Station. Berlin has sent a contract for two years, 2019 and 2020, on the same terms as before. Petersburgh pays $700 per month rent and half of all operating expenses. The Board agreed to the renewal and authorized Webster to sign the contract.
Webster also said he had received an executive order from the Governor’s office allowing property taxes to be paid 21 days late without penalty because of the January 19 winter storm.
Town Clerk To Add Tax Collector Duties
Town Attorney David Gruenberg said his research showed that the Town Board can assign the Tax Collector duties to the Town Clerk by resolution, as long as they do it 150 days before the election. Town Clerk Deidra Michaels said the term of Tax Collector Emily Harrison is completed by the end of this year and she will be retiring. Michaels said it will save the Town money because there does not have to be any increase in the Town Clerk salary. The Board liked the sound of this and Gruenberg said he will send his memo on the subject again and prepare a resolution for the Board’s consideration for an upcoming meeting.
There was an item on the agenda for approval of an audit of the Tax Collector done by Board members Denise Church and Dennis Smith, but it was tabled because it was not complete. Some of the records were at the Tax collector’s home and had not yet been reviewed.
Dog Shelter
An inspection had been done of the Town’s dog shelter in February and it was found to be unsatisfactory. The report said the problem was lack of a heating and cooling source to avoid temperature extremes, but Dog Control Officer Molly Smith said she was told the problem was lack of a rabies pole. A reinspection is scheduled for March 10.
Historical Book Acquired
Town Historian Peter Schaaphok said the NY State Museum had contacted him a couple of years ago about a book pertaining to Petersburgh that it wanted to give to the Town. Schaaphok has now picked up that book and he brought it to the Town Board meeting to show the Board. It consists of records of the Overseer of the Poor in Petersburgh from 1808 to 1886. Schaaphok said the Town allocated $50 to $100 per year for sustenance of the poor, and these funds were used by the Town official known as the Overseer of the Poor to respond to individual cases of hardship. This book contains the records kept by the Overseer of the Poor in Petersburgh. Schaaphok said the book is quite fragile, and he hopes to photocopy it when that can be arranged, and post it online so people can see it conveniently.
Salt And Sand
Peter Schaaphok said although the Board has discussed this many times, the Highway Department is not sticking to the policy of using salt on paved roads, sand on dirt roads. He said a lot of sand has been used on paved roads this winter, and as soon as some dry weather comes along the dust kicked up by passing cars becomes a serious health hazard. He said he believes it’s only a matter of time before somebody sues the Town over lung damage caused by this dust. He said some have said that it is a lot more expensive to use salt on paved roads, but he disputed that, saying it is no more expensive per lane-mile, because you need to use much less salt to keep the road clear than you would have to use sand.
Town Board member Denise Church said, “we agree with you,” but she said the Board doesn’t have a lot of control over what the Highway Superintendent does. He is an elected official and answers directly to the voters.
There was some uncertainty on the Board about whether there is any technical reason why it can’t be done right now. It’s more trouble, as you have to have one truck or trucks loaded with salt for paved roads and another truck or trucks loaded with sand for dirt roads, rather than having all the trucks loaded with a salt/sand mixture to be used on all the roads. Highway Superintendent Ray Harrison was not present, so the Board did not hear his response right away.