Fredonia has hired H&K Services to replace the chlorination system at the village water treatment plant.

The Board of Trustees announced the decision this week. H&K Services was the low bidder on the chlorination project with a quote of $384,300.

The trustees also hired Bright’s Mechanical Contractor to replace a water intake platform at the treatment plant. The company is supposed to fabricate and deliver a new carbon steel platform at a quoted cost of $17,730.

Trustee Paul Wandel said the new chlorination system was subject of a Sept. 16 meeting. Wandel said he, Mayor Michael Ferguson, Trustee Jon Espersen, and Water Supervisor Luis Fred met with state and county health officials, along with engineers from LaBella.

“Hopefully construction will begin very soon. We’re just ironing out final details,” Wandel said Monday. “I’ll remind the public why we’re doing this and the need for this project. Really, it’s all about purifying our water in a robust manner that is reliable and much improved from what we currently have.”

Andy Ludwig, “Save Our Reservoir’s” standard-bearer at Monday’s meeting, interjected from the audience: “Natalie Whiteman said they didn’t want to spend the money.”

That was a reference to a statement by the Chautauqua County water specialist at a previous trustees meeting. Whiteman said the village should be aware of structural concerns at the chlorination room “before you vote on replacing this system and putting money into the plant where we hope to not have to spend money.”

The Board of Trustees voted Sept. 10 to decommission the water treatment plant and reservoir and buy water from the North County Water District. “Save Our Reservoir” is a group of Fredonians firmly opposed to that course of action.

Ludwig tried to press Wandel, who was speaking during his trustee report, on Whiteman’s statements. Ferguson shut Ludwig down, stating it was not his time to speak.