OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Eric Wies, National Infrastructure Practice Leader and Senior Vice President at CPL, discussed the Shorewood water project at the latest Dunkirk Town Board meeting.

The Shorewood Water Project in the town of Dunkirk has gone anything but smoothly. Frustration has mounted for past and current Town Board members, along with the residents of the water district itself, as the project has lingered for years without any substantial progress.

The updated price tag for the project won’t make things any better.

At the latest Dunkirk Town Board meeting, an adjustment to a prior resolution was authorized for an increase of roughly $1.5 million to the maximum total cost of the Shorewood water project as it proceeds to bid in the coming months, as soon as the legal proceedings conclude.

Eric Wies, National Infrastructure Practice Leader and Senior Vice President at CPL: Architecture-Engineering-Planning, discussed the project and the reasoning for rising cost at the latest Town Board meeting. When asked by a resident why the cost increased so much, Wies answered simply.

“COVID, buddy,” he said.

Wies said that prices since the pandemic have “skyrocketed.” The original cost estimate for the project was issued in April 2020.

On March 15, 2022, the Board passed a resolution approving an estimated maximum project cost of $2,295,000, but now, the estimated amount authorized by the Town Board totals $3,794,307. The bond resolution pertaining to the project was also amended to reflect the cost increase.

The project consists of approximately 12,900 linear feet of water main updates, fire hydrant upgrades and valve replacements. The District covers portions of Woodlands Drive, Edgewood Drive, Shorewood Drive East, Shorewood Drive West, Farmlane Road, Linwood Drive, Lakewood Drive, Morewood Drive, and Wilbur Road. The project would serve 173 residential properties and 16 commercial properties. The general scope of the project has not changed, but the maps, plans, and overall report have been revised by CPL.

The Town of Dunkirk was awarded a grant through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation WIIA program up to $1,377,000 to apply to the Shorewood Water District capital improvement project. The Town must enter into a project finance agreement by Sept. 30, 2026.

The Board-approved increase is in a similar range as the grant funding the project has received since it was proposed, essentially making the impact on the residents the same as it would have been when originally proposed if the grant funds were never awarded. Wies said he hopes the total cost will come in under the maximum amount, but it is too early to say before the project is ready to bid.

The public hearing on the project cost increase lasted roughly 25 minutes, with comments and questions from a handful of residents. Some of the questions raised were related to issues of a similar project down the road in Van Buren Point, Portland’s Water District 2 project, also handled by CPL. Residents in Van Buren Point took issue with the project, including the proximity of water lines to sewer lines. Dunkirk residents raised concerns about qualifications of the inspector and workers of the project, which was also a point of contention in Portland.

“The people we use have done this for years,” Wies said. He called the objections from the residents of Van Buren Point “a matter of opinion”, and added that Town Supervisor, Highway Superintendent, CPL’s inspector, and the contractor, S. St. George Enterprises, all disagreed with the claims of wrongdoing from the residents in Portland.

For the project in Dunkirk, an arduous easement process led to Eminent Domain proceedings that are still ongoing, due to the nature of the roads being privately owned by the residents they serve. The process is not only time consuming, but also costly to the residents. All costs pertaining to the Eminent Domain process will be shared throughout the Shorewood Water District.

The total project cost will be applied to residents through debt service payments on their property taxes. Wies projected an increase of $2.19 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The residents also owe a debt charge for the payback related to Chadwick Bay Intermunicipal Water Works (CBI).

Once the Eminent Domain process has been resolved and the required permits are issued, the project will go out to bid. As soon as the Shorewood water project is prepared for bids, the project plans will be available at the Town Clerk’s office.

Wies loosely projects going out to bid this summer with construction to begin in the fall. With the district being home to some seasonal residents, the bulk of the impact on day-to-day life coming in the fall and spring would be better than doing the construction in the summer. Wies did not rule out construction during the winter months.

“Whether it’s the winter, spring, summer, whenever it is – there’s going to be interruptions to typical life out there. That’s just the nature of construction,” Wies said.

Town Board member Jean Crane spoke to how long the project has been in discussions. The plans to upgrade the Shorewood Water District began when Crane was the Town Clerk. She has since retired, joined the Town Board, and has served on it for three years before the project has progressed to the point of construction.

“We’ve got to move forward with it and get these people water. It’s time to move on,” Crane said.

Town Board member Phil Leone concurred. “We’ve got to get moving,” he said.

In other water-related news in the town, the Board approved a new contract with CBI. The town of Sheridan, the town of Pomfret, and the village of Fredonia have also been presented with a new CBI contract, as well. The interest rate for late payments will decrease from 1.5% to 0.5%.

The next Dunkirk Town Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m.