Ray Lewandowski

A longtime Fredonia resident blasted village government over its handling of the water system this week.

Ray Lewandowski, a Carol Avenue resident since 1977, told the Board of Trustees he has discolored water, even though new mains recently got installed in his area. He also said the village has mishandled things such as the reservoir and the dam for many years.

He claimed in the early 1990s, “the village had access to a million dollars to dredge (the reservoir) and rebuild the dam. … They refused the money. I begged them to do something about it.”

Lewandowski handed trustees a very dirty water filter that he said came from his house. He called it “a bunch of baloney” that the old pipes in his neighborhood were outdated and no good.

“So you spent all that money on all that new piping, all that work, the only person that benefitted was (the contractor), with a job,” he said. “Because we still have dirty water on Carol Avenue.”

However, Lewandowski thinks the biggest source of discoloration is with the reservoir, and again criticized the village for not dredging it.

“I don’t drink the water. I pay my taxes, I pay for my water bill, and I buy water. It’s a shame I have to do that,” he said.

Mayor Douglas Essek said during his report that he was meeting with grant consultants Nate Aldrich and Travis Gordon over finding infrastructure funding opportunities, with a focus on the water system.

Trustee Michelle Twichell commented that the water system should be flushed out, but Essek said that’s not currently possible due to parts needed in the Webster Road holding tank.

“Unfortunately some of the old house mains, instead of having copper services, may still have galvanized piping,” Essek said, after Lewandowski had left. “A lot of issues are within a person’s residence. Our residents should look at those things first.”

In his report, Trustee Jon Espersen said he recently met with Dunkirk Department of Public Works chief Randy Woodbury about water issues, joined by fellow Trustee Michelle Twichell and Chautauqua County legislator Susan Parker, who represents Fredonia.

“We reviewed the pumping station, the interconnect on Vineyard Drive, and also I guess there’s an interconnect on Middlesex (Drive). He kind of went through the history on thise different facilities,” Espersen said.

“Randy is under the belief, and I think he’s right, that if Dunkirk and Fredonia work together, we can help ensure there’s redundant and adequate water supply. … I’m hoping all parties can get together and work on the issues we have on water.”

Also touting additional water connections betwen the municipalities, Essek said, “I can’t speak for 30 years ago…but the current administration is working on these problems.”