Trustee James Lynden again defended the Fredonia water system.

Fredonia village trustees approved two field orders and two change orders related to the ongoing water system project.

Trustee James Lynden criticized the field orders, stating, “These should have been included in the first cost, but in the spirit of keeping this project moving, I vote ‘aye.'”

Lynden wound up voting for just the first field order, which authorized $15,137 to project contractor Kandey Co. for additional services related to “the need to pump down the clarifies and clean sludge,” according to the resolution. He voted no on the second one, an outlay of $31,270 to Kandey for work on the water plant clarifiers in a later time frame than planned.

Earlier in the meeting, he and Trustee Roger Britz took issues with the OBSERVER’s criticism of the village government’s handling of the water system.

Looking at a photocopy of a Saturday article, Lynden read the headline, “Fredonia water failure looms again.” He said, “What this represents is ongoing inflammatory articles against the village of Fredonia.”

Lynden continued, The village has been taking all kinds of action to have a safe and sound system, has spent an awful lot of money. To state that we do not have enough water is not even accurate of all.”

He said the city of Dunkirk could provide 750,000 gallons of water a day if need be. The upcoming North Water County District’s interconnections could offer “over 430,000 gallons a day each end,” and the village’s own water storage is a million gallons, he added.

“That puts us in a very safe place overall,” he asserted.

Britz echoed Lynden’s frustration over the article.

“I was a little annoyed, too, to see that they were stirring the pot in an article that… kinda goes back to September of last year, “ he said. That’s a reference to the failure of water service in the village during that month.