FORESTVILLE - The village of Forestville is taking its next steps toward establishing a new water system - and planning ahead to help maintain their pace in the future.
The village board Tuesday awarded bids for the establishment of new water wells to Jones Well Drilling out of Randolph. Three separate actions were awarded to the company, lending some leeway to the water-troubled village and pre-paving the way for any additional work that may be needed.
According to Rex Tolman of Tolman Engineering, who is heading the water project, the base bid will cover the drilling of a well on property owned by Sherman Bailey. Two alternates can then be added to that base: the first to drill another well on the Someday Maybe Farms property, and the second to drill a third well at an undetermined site.
The drilling at the Bailey site is a certainty, with drilling at the Someday Maybe Farms site likely, Tolman said. Testing at both sites has proven promising, but if they end up yielding fewer than 120 gallons per minute, a third site will have to be chosen. If the limit is met, the third site remains an option the village may take.
"By structuring it this way, even though we don't know exactly what we're doing yet, we do have the bids in place to make it happen," Tolman said. "That's why the resolution is set up that we have a couple contingencies there, but I think in the long run, we'll have that third well - and probably want to do that third well - then we'll have it all in place to do it without having to rebid."
Based upon the bids awarded, drilling at the Bailey site will cost $45,000, with drilling at Someday Maybe Farms going for $42,000. The third drilling, based upon the uncertain circumstances, was awarded at $58,000.
Tolman said the only problems he could foresee with the wells would be treating for iron, which would take a green sand filter - what he said was a common, proven treatment.
"This is a real milestone, I think, for the village, because these two wells are our supply," Tolman said. "They look like they're going to be wonderful."
Mayor Charles Brewster said the village was currently off the temporary system that had to be established after leaks were discovered. The temporary system remains should it be needed.
"The tank is in good shape," Brewster said, "so continue to conserve and we should be in good shape for the rest of the summer."
Tolman also addressed the issue of water meter problems within the village. Originally, an error had caused the delivery of water meters read on two separate radio frequencies. When the contractors and manufacturers attempted to remedy this problem, Tolman said, some of the wrong meters were replaced.
The meter manufacturer is currently testing a reader that will accept both meter frequencies, however, and has offered to read the village's meters until testing is complete, whereupon, the village will be given the new reader at no cost.
In other matters:
- On the residential side of the water issue, Justin Dix asked whether it could be possible for the village to find any grants or incentives to offer people who take measures to reduce their water use, such as installing low-flow appliances or collecting rainwater for outdoor use.
"It would promote people to use less water in general," he said. "Anything like that they could get into; even stuff as contacting Cliffstar and seeing if it could be possible to get rain barrels for people."
The village board was receptive to the idea and said they would investigate the matter.
- The village board adopted a resolution to rename the facility commonly known as "The Barn" to Forestville Village Hall, and to seek quotes on converting the facility's overhead storage space into the mayor's office.