Trustees set for vote tonight on Fredonia water
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Fredonia's trustees put off a decision about the village water system during a special meeting before the holiday.
The meeting was essentially yet another discussion about next steps to take with Fredonia's aged, citation-ridden water infrastructure. However, this time, at least four resolutions were discussed for a possible vote at the next Board of Trustees meeting this evening.
Trustee Jon Espersen, seconded by Trustee Nicole Siracuse, proposed a resolution on "Option 3" as laid out by LaBella in its report on Fredonia's water. That would "draw down" the reservoir to essentially mothball it, and get water from the city of Dunkirk - and, hopefully, new wells.
Trustee James Lynden, with a second from Trustee Michelle Twichell, wanted a resolution backing "Option 1." That would forgo getting water from Dunkirk and would focus on repairing and renovating the water system.
Siracuse sought another resolution directing the village to dig test wells for a groundwater supply. LaBella originally advocated that in Option 3. But its representatives have since pointed out that Fredonia can dig test wells no matter what route it takes with its overall supply.
Mayor Douglas Essek backs what he called a hybrid - Option 1 with a new interconnection with Dunkirk, intended for emergency and backup use. It's unclear if Essek's plan will make it onto Tuesday's agenda - no trustees commented on it.
Friday night's meeting opened with an announcement by Essek that the public comment portion was "discontinued." However, Twichell, with a second by Lynden, called for the comment session to go on. Siracuse backed them in a 3-2 vote.
Half a dozen people from the public shuffled to the podium - five of them also commented at Monday's public hearing on LaBella's water report.
Twichell said, "The cost of the pumping (necessary in Option 3) seems to be an exorbitant cost." Espersen said the village's costs in making water are surging, up 30% in the last five years. If Dunkirk increased the cost of water sold to Fredonia by 3% a year, it would be "minimal" as compared to the 6-7% increase in costs to produce water, he said.
"This is not an emotional issue, this is a fact based issue," Espersen said. "Emotions should not come into this issue."
Siracuse said there was not enough difference in the three options on the cost to end users to drive her decision. So it became which one was most likely to get grant money. LaBella's Michael Cocquyt, at her request, spoke remotely to say Options 2 and 3 were most likely to get outside funding. (Option 2 - to get water from other sources and decommission the dam and reservoir entirely - was not discussed Friday.)
Trustee David Bird was unhappy that trustees did not vote on an option Friday.
"We were here tonight to decide what to vote on," he said at one point. "We've had four months to discuss this. I wasted an entire night with my kids in town (for the holidays)."
Bird expressed his displeasure again as the meeting closed without a vote, ripping his fellow trustees.
"Absolutely ridiculous," he said.