Revised Water District Bond Approved
By Doug La Rocque
Following a new public hearing, at which few people spoke, the Petersburgh Town Board on Monday night, August 20, approved a bond resolution for 1.239 million dollars. That bond resolution is required for the town to submit a grant application for the repairs and needed upgrades to the water district. Board members made it very clear, this is only a fallback should the grant and loan request being made through the NYS Department of Health (DOH) be rejected. And then, there is no assurance the board will actually issue the bond and put such a financial burden on the members of the Petersburgh Water District. Town Board member Denise Jacon Church said such an action would be “unthinkable”.
The bond approval means the town can now go forth with the grant and loan application, which is due by September 7, and is being handled by Cedarwood Engineering. If approved, the grant would cover 60 percent of the cost, and provide the town with a zero or 3 percent loan for the remainder. That is quite dependent upon the results of the income survey recently sent out to water district residents, which in confidential. The grant and loan application require an 84 percent return rate.
The bond resolution authorizes Town Supervisor Alan Webster to issue the bond if needed, something Water Committee member Heinz Noeding vehemently objected to. He argued that at least one other member of the town board should also sign off on it. The board was non- committal on that.
The town’s environmental attorney, Kevin Young, handed out a chart that shows approximate yearly water rate increases should the loan be approved, than range from zero dollars for the first 15 years to as high as nearly 98 dollars for the last 15 years of a 30 year loan. These numbers fluctuate depending on how much of the money Taconic Plastics has already spent on the project, is credit to the grant. Whatever the credited amount is, it will directly reduce the amount of money the town would have to borrow. To date, Taconic has spent $472,000.
All of that, however, may not be eligible for consideration. According to Heinz Noeding, some of that money was spent in 2016, and as he reads the grant and loan rules and regulations, that portion may not be eligible for consideration without a special waiver. Water District Supervisor Ben Krahforst told the board how much of Taconic’s contributions will be credited toward the grant “is up to the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation. My best guess is that we will get some, but not all.” The final figures will not be known until the grant is applied for an accepted.
Mr. Noeding also presented the board with a letter from the water committee, outlining their concerns about the process, making nine particular points. The letter states the committee and a few other concerned citizens met on August 15, and that the clear message that come out of that meeting was “a continued concern that the discussions between Taconic and the Town Supervisor will not lead to a fair outcome of cost sharing, and as a result will unfairly burden the Water District residents with an unsustainable future financial obligation.” The board accepted the letter with little comment. According to Mr. Noeding, anyone wishing a copy should contact the Town Clerk’s office.
Following the discussions and the hearing, the board voted to adopt a negative environmental impact declaration for the Water Rehabilitation Project, and approved the Bond Resolution.
At the regular Town Board meeting that followed the public hearing, the Board also approved Local Law # 3 to allow games of chance within the town. That followed another public hearing at which no one spoke against the measure. Before the law can actually take effect, however, it must also be gain approval of the town’s electorate. The question will be placed on the November Ballot at the General Election.
Landfill Questions
Mr. Noeding asked what is the status of the landfill, once operated by Petersburgh in conjunction with the Town of Berlin. He presented the board with pictures he claims shows water flowing around the “carbon socks” placed at the landfill as a temporary control to PFOA laden leachate that is draining into a nearby stream that flows into the Little Hoosic River. Attorney Young stated negotiating continue with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Taconic and the company once known as Energy Answers, which was hired to close the landfill. He also remains hopeful that DEC will not declare the landfill a
Superfund Site, which could prove to be very costly for both towns. As to further prodding by Mr. Noeding, the attorney re-stated his previous comments that it is not wise to negotiate in public.
Supervisor Webster also reported that the Lewis Hollow Bridge has been re-opened, with a 10- ton weight limit. Two more sections of decking need to be worked on, after which time the weight restrictions may be removed.