The Fredonia Board of Trustees has tabled a fee proposal for engineering work on the village’s linkup with the North County Water District.

The proposal was for LaBella Associates to do the work for $2,698,000. LaBella is the engineering firm that has worked with the village on its water issues for several years now. It conducted two studies that seemingly leaned toward the acquisition of water from outside sources and the mothballing of the village reservoir and treatment plant.

Trustee LeeAnn Lazarony had a concern about a change in the proposal to remove demolition of the water treatment plant. Trustee Jon Espersen suggested she move to table the resolution, she did, and the board agreed.

“I just have a concern, and I know that everybody’s talking about saving money with this project. I’m a little concerned with the idea of just locking up the water treatment plant and putting a fence around it,” Lazarony said.

There are worries about erosion around the plant, and Lazarony wondered if it would be cost-effective in the long run to simply fence off the plant when it might collapse in a few years.

“To be clear, it sounds like you’re addressing more a potential liability issue,” Trustee Paul Wandel said.

“I am, and I just want to make sure that if we’re going to take something out of here, that it should be right,” Lazarony replied. “We should think of the long term effect of that.”

Trustee Ben Brauchler noted, “There is always a potential for a change order down the road, which would reinstitute the things that were removed. We’re a long way from having to actually make that decision.”

Lazarony continued to express a desire for more discussion on the matter of what to do with the treatment plant. Wandel offered to have a conversation with her about it.

Sam Drayo wondered earlier in the meeting if the proposal “provides for what happens in the event of a change of course, a different approach — if the plan changes.”

“That figure was part of their $17.5 million… cost estimate of the entire project,” replied Espersen.

Drayo noted “there is a court action pending,” wondering if the fee proposal would get changed if the village moves to keep its reservoir. Three village residents have sued to stop the plan for North County Water District acquisition.

“I’m just wondering if this contract binds us to a course of action of going to the North County Water District,” said Drayo, who opposes such action.

Espersen said it did not. He offered to share a copy of LaBella’s proposal with Drayo.