New Fredonia water cost coming
Trending
The Fredonia Board of Trustees got an update from Matt Higgins of LaBella Monday about the village's effort to connect with the North County Water District.
He basically went over a one-page summary that he handed to trustees. Higgins stated there was no change in the project schedule since he last spoke with trustees Aug. 31. He went over a couple key upcoming dates on the schedule.
Higgins noted that the project has an "important" preliminary design submission deadline of Sept. 30. "That's a deadline that is driven by the Department of Health consent order that (was) executed with the village. The work is on track to meet that deadline," he said.
Higgins added that the project plans would be given to a cost estimate consultant, which will take about a month to review and estimate construction costs. "So toward the end of October, we should have an updated construction cost based on the preliminary design materials."
He later noted that some of the pieces of the project are further along than others. For example, a new main and tie-ins on Water Street are closer to completion than an interconnection site with the district, which still needs an easement negotiated.
That site is near the Routes 20 and 60 roundabout, apparently on the property of 716 Eye Care, although no one said that out loud at the trustees' workshop.
Higgins said two of three site screening evaluations have been completed by LaBella and they look favorable. If the third does as well, LaBella will recommend opening easement negotiations with the property owner.
The interconnect building is intended to be 25 feet by 25 feet and will top off NCWD water with treatment chemicals, such as for anti-corrosion, Higgins said.
Trustee Tim Mulholland wondered why the property was chosen, noting it is very close to the Fredonia Central Schools.
"We engaged with the school and it didn’t move forward much, it kind of just stagnated," Higgins said. An attempt to put it on or near the site of the new Brooks Memorial Hospital was also a "no-go," he said.
"We are in touch through the mayor (Michael Ferguson) with a backup (site)," Higgins said. "We are very much considering that this is the critical path, as far as schedule and driving the project forward. If we are unable,to,facilitate the village entering into an easement agreement with a property owner in that vicinity, we will:just need to find Plan B, Plan C, Plan D -- we'll need to keep going down the list and find one."
Ferguson stated that "another property owner nearby is willing to talk if this doesn't work out, but I think we're OK."
The mayor sought confirmation that the $17.9 million price tag on the project has dropped due to "positive changes."
Higgins replied, "I would love to have that for you, mayor. I think that's what we're all burning to know at the end of October." He noted that it is a "third-party estimate" and it will take time for the estimate to get done.
However, it will be a "really meaningful benchmark," he said.
There was sort of a side discussion about addressing fire hydrant pressure as part of the project. Higgins noted that is not currently included in the project but LaBella would be open to listening about it.
Higgins concluded his time at Fredonia's podium by stating that the village government has three key agreements related to the project that it must review as soon as possible. They are contracts with the North County Water District, the city of Dunkirk, and the town of Pomfret.
"Executing them all would remove another hurdle to short term financing, or provide another project stakeholder clarity about the village's intent to move forward, which are both meaningful benefits in the short term," Higgins said.