Water issues dominate Watkins board discussion

    WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen Village Board spent much of their regular meeting held on Monday, Aug. 20 discussing a request that was made by the town of Reading for reimbursement for past rent presumably paid for the use of the wastewater treatment plant, the proposed consolidation with the Montour Falls treatment plant and the water tank located on the side hill.
    Mayor Mark Swinnerton informed the board that the village had received a request from the town of Reading for reimbursement for a portion of the rental fees paid in addition to the regular sewer bill since 2004-2005. The rental fee is currently $9 a month per user but has varied somewhat over the last eight years. Trustee Scott Gibson said that in most municipalities, the rent covers use of the main line from wherever it crosses into the jurisdiction to the treatment plant and for the right to use the system. Utilities superintendent Mark Specchio thought the rental fee was for the maintenance on the utility side, in which case he said Reading maintains their own. The total charge was $68,984 and Reading has requested that Watkins Glen credit them an amount slightly over $37,000.
    Gibson explained that part of the reason for the request is because it is unclear what the definition of “rental” really is. Swinnerton suggested that the board offer a credit of $6,912 to reimburse Reading for the fee during the time he, Gibson and Trustee Kevin Smith have been in office and to drop the fee from future bills. He was reluctant to go back further because he did not want to speak for past administrations and for what purpose the rental fee may have had with them. Trustee Paul Clifford added that the municipalities are in the process of working out an inter municipal agreement regarding the sewer rates following a comprehensive rate study, and so “part of this is about being fair.” Gibson said that the agreement really needs to “spell it out so that they know where the numbers come from.” The board approved offering a credit of $6,912 to the town of Reading for past rental fees and removing the fee in the future.
    The engineering report for the proposed new wastewater treatment plant has been completed said Swinnerton. The new plant, if constructed, will consolidate the Watkins Glen and Montour Falls treatment plants. The total estimated cost of the new plant is nearly $25 million.  Gibson said that this is a good opportunity because even if “consolidation doesn’t happen, we still have to put a couple million dollars into the plant and Montour is in the same boat.” The next step, explained Swinnerton, is for the municipalities to seek grant funding for the project.
    Specchio advised the board that the fresh water tank located at Padua may need to be replaced because of an issue with the foundation. The engineering firm Barton & Loguidice, who prepared the wastewater treatment plant report, recommended inspecting the tank to assess the condition before taking any major steps towards replacement, said Gibson. He added that the tank is probably due for coating while it is empty if it is found that it does not need to be replaced. Specchio said that if the tank does need to be replaced, they would consider relocating it to a different location to provide better service to the side hill. The board will wait for an inspection report before making any further decisions on the tank.
    In other business:
    • A draft of the village’s comprehensive plan was completed by the Laberge Group. Swinnerton hopes to have the plan placed on the village’s website in draft form for the public to review. There are a few additional steps, including approval by the planning board, before the comprehensive plan is formally adopted.
    • The village purchased a 2012 Bobcat S185 at a cost of $25,252.00, a stump grinder for $4,912 and has a purchase order in place for a Dodge 4500 for $60,164.26. Funds from the sale of surplus items will be applied to offset the cost of the new items including the sale of a 2008 Ford F450 and a 2011 Bobcat S185.
    The next regular meeting of the village board is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building.