Minutes, News and Notes from the Special Town Board Meeting on January 12th, 2009:
you may also get full, approved copies of the minutes by visiting the Town Hall
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The meeting was called to order at 7:10PM.
Supervisor Jackson led us in The Pledge to the Flag.
Board Members present were Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman LaForest,
Supervisor Jackson, Councilman Wrisley and Councilman Sayward. Also
present was Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk.
Visitors included: Sharon Bosion, John Ferry, Jan Eakins, Lauren Murphy, George Davis, Susan Bacot-Davis, Jonathan Pribble, Colleen Van Hoven, Jim Van Hoven, Steve Maselli, Cara Eisley, Michelle Cassidy, Bruce Stephan, Joan Stephan, Maryanne Schultz and Trish Walker.
Supervisor Jackson stated that we now have the prices from Hydrosource to drill the test well. Locating the site is $11,000.00, supervising the drilling is $7,000.00, the estimate for the test drilling of the well is $10,000-20,000. The price will depend on how deep they drill and how much casing is needed. Two other prices are for testing the water and the pump test, this test needs to be done for three days to check how this well will affect the water levels in surrounding wells. They will probably monitor the Hayes’s well, Lee Ackley’s well Supervisor Jackson’s and Essex Farm’s wells. This test is required by the State. The cost for water testing is $5,000.00 and the pump test is $15,000. The cost for a test well will cost between $48,000-58,000.
Sharon Boison asked about multiple sites for drilling. Supervisor Jackson stated we do not have the money for multiple drill sites and in two sites the owners were not interested in selling or donating the land. Another site would be too costly to pipe the water to the water tower and the electric cost would be very expensive.
Colleen Van Hoven asked how we propose to pay for the test well. Supervisor Jackson stated we an unexpended fund balance in the water account of $87,000.00. If we use the majority of this unexpended fund balance we will be back to a very low balance in this account and he is not in favor of this option.
Supervisor Jackson explained that drilling a well for your home is much different than drilling a well for a Public Water System. The State requirements for well drilling for a Public Water System are much stricter.
The question was asked why does the drilling need to be supervised. Supervisor Jackson stated that the different types of sediment need to be tested at each different level.
George Davis questioned that in one report it stated that more than one test well could be needed to be drilled and he wondered if we should go ahead with the one test well. Supervisor Jackson stated that this what we need to decide.
Bruce Stephan questioned if we do not have the money to do further drilling how are we going to do the project and what is the alternative to not doing this project. Supervisor Jackson stated the reason for drilling a test well is so we can apply for and hopefully receive funding from the stimulus package to complete this project. If we do nothing there is no chance to receive funding. If the filters fail there may or may not be funding to replace the water system. There has not been funding available in the last four years. The other option is to borrow money and have this debt for 30 years.
The question was asked about upgrading the pump house with a grant. Supervisor Jackson said it was possibility. It is more probable that we could get the funding for the wells in the stimulus package. Supervisor Jackson also stated that levels for carncrgenics are below the DOH levels in the Lake now. It is a concern as to future numbers.
Bruce Stephan asked why couldn’t we apply for funding stating that funding would be used to drill a test well. Supervisor Jackson stated that EFC’s letter for funding request states that the property needs to purchased or leased, the final drawings need to be completed and this can only be done if the test well is drilled. We well apply even if a test well has not been drilled but, our chances of receiving funding will be much lower.
Jim Van Hoven stated that at the last meeting he had complemented the Board on their hard work, but unfortunately the end game didn’t turn out quite the same. He was very disappointed that the Board did not have the numbers last week that they had tonight.
Mr. Van Hoven also stated that he did not know where the Board was going to get funding for this project, but he felt they should move forward with the test well drill. Mr. VanHoven stated that if we receive funding that would be great and if don’t at least we have moved in the right direction.
Bruce Stephan asked about the grant Wadhams received. Supervisor Jackson stated there have been no state grants that he was aware of, but he would talk to Dan Connell and get information on where the grant came from.
Susan Bacot-Davis questioned as to whether or not we would move forward with the project if no funding was available and would any monies spent be lost. Supervisor Jackson stated the money spent would not be lost because sooner or later we will have to do something whether or not we have grant money. We would then have to do a bond. The wells look to be the less expensive alternative for a Public Water System. Supervisor Jackson stated that before the filters fail or DOH mandates an upgraded filter system that grant funding will hopefully become available.
Supervisor Jackson stated that if funding is not available that this well could be capped and used when funding becomes available. The Public Water System will require two wells and one would be in place already.
Bruce Stephan wanted to know if other hydro geologists had been contacted to get a quote on doing this work. Supervisor Jackson stated that Hydrosource is the company that is used in this area. He said that he would contact other hydro geologist and ask if they would be interested in giving us a quote for this project.
Supervisor Jackson stressed that we need to act quickly because the window for funding is very small. EFC’s letter stated everything needs to be ready when they ask for your application.
Steve Masselli stated that the Lake is a certainty in terms of an exact filtration system
and in terms of the amount of water available.
The cost between the ground water and a new filtration plant was discussed and
how planning was executed. Supervisor Jackson stated we went out to bid and AES was the low bidder.
Councilman Sayward requested the following be researched: explore finding any other hydro geologist that would be willing to give an estimate on the project, per foot drilling costs w/ or w/o casing, written contract (even with a not to exceed amount), estimate of land lease/purchase cost, EFC’s requirement details and actual plans needed/ SEQER.
Councilwoman LaPine stated she wanted an itemized list of cost
Supervisor Jackson stated there is a meeting Wednesday with the APA to discuss what they will do to expedite this.
Supervisor Jackson has received permission from the Fire Department to drill the test well. The Fire Department will need to meet with their lawyer to decide on a lease agreement or a sale price.
The point was made that the test well drilling cost is part of the overall stated cost for the entire project.
The question was what will happen if the test well was dry. Supervisor Jackson stated that there is not enough money to drill another well, so we would just have to wait until DOH make us do something different.
The question was asked why not get an estimate on the upgrade of the filters. Councilman Wrisley stated that is why we were having these discussion as to which is the way to go since we do not have a large sum of money to spend. The feedback that we have received is that the well drilling was the way to go because it was less expensive and a controlled source.
The question was asked if the test well would be the production well. Supervisor Jackson, Councilman Wrisley and Councilman Sayward all stated that generally the test well is the production well and a second well is drilled to be the back up well.
Supervisor Jackson scheduled another meeting for January 26 at 7PM at the Town Hall.
Councilman LaForest went on the record stating he feels we need to do the test well. He
thinks it is incumbent on us to do one more exhaustive step and that is to check on the availabilities of a hydro geologist. He does not feel there is much value in examing the cost of the actual mechanical work of the well. Councilman LaForest stated that if anyone has other sources the Board is willing to look at them. Councilman LaForest stated that there are a lot of consultant fees involved in this project. Some of the fees are fixed, but some of it is supervising the well driller in action.
Councilman LaForest stated he and Supervisor Jackson would do one more check, so there will be more information available to go over. We never expected the range in the cost of this project to be so high.
Councilman LaForest doubts the value in hiring some else to redo AES figures. He stated that he trust AES’s figures except maybe for the barn. He also stated that he is very suspious of continued use of the Lake water. He just feels that the hammer is going to fall.
Jim Van Hoven told the Board that they were doing what a Board should be by questioning and listening to people. There was a discussion about the waste water treatment plant. Supervisor Jackson stated we are still seeking funds to build the plant. Supervisor Jackson stated that the site as of now for the Waste Water Treatment is at the Townsend (Close) property. We still need to locate the pumping station to pump to the treatment plant. ECHO Parking lot is the location the Town wants to use for the pumping station, most of which will be underground. The documents are signed for the Close property but the APA will not give approval for a sub-division until all plans are complete for its use are in place. The question was asked if putting a sewer system in Town has been ruled out. Supervisor Jackson stated that unless someone comes forward and offers the Town property-yes.
Susan Bacot-Davis asked if the sewer system does not go in will the Town have some kind of mandate for homeowner to have a certain kind of septic systems. Supervisor Jackson stated the State already has mandates. Susan also asked why the sewage is going in the Lake if the State has these mandates. Supervisor Jackson explained that in the Hamlet the lot sizes are so small that there is not proper drainage.
The question was asked who could vote on the sewer plant and the water. Supervisor Jackson said that if we have to go to bond then the residents of the water district and the sewer district will be the only residents to vote.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.
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