Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos announced more funding for the Phase 3 water project, and commented on talks with Fredonia about linking it with the village last week.

Pacos said at a Pomfret Town Board meeting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $1.86 million in funding. A low interest loan (under 3%) of $4,709,000 is also slated.

That brings outside funding of the project to $11,870,000, Pacos said, with other grants announced previously. He said the total cost of the project should be about $20.4 million.

Pacos also repeated what Fredonia officials said Monday at their board meeting: He’s talked with village officials about collaboration on Phase 3.

“I approached Mayor (Michael) Ferguson and said the village should look at partnering with Pomfret” before committing to expensive renovations of its own water system, Pacos said.

“They think they could come up with a plan that could save our village residents tens of millions,” he added.

Pacos was apparently referring to Ferguson and Trustees Jon Espersen and Nicole Siracuse, who were also part of the talks.

The town supervisor also responded to comments made Monday by another trustee, Michelle Twichell.

Twichell referred to municipalities considering an exit from the North County Water District, which supplies Dunkirk and will supply Phase 3. Pacos said that Brocton and Portland are actually disassociating from CBI Water Works, the district’s billing company. They are staying in the district.

The water district “is not on tenuous ground,” said Pacos, who chairs its board. He said the district is just $1,400 in the red for the year so far.

Pacos made the argument that by adding more customers to the district, the water price will go down for all users.