Is a sewer in the pipeline for Millerton and North East?

NORTH EAST — A last-minute request from Joint Sewer Committee Chairman Robert Trotta to get onto the North East Town Board agenda led to some pretty exciting news for those in attendance at the Dec. 4 meeting: President-elect Barack Obama is considering disbursing $700 million for sewer and water treatment in rural New York.

“The president-elect wants this done quickly, probably for economic stimulus,� explained engineer Robert Flores, from C.T. Male Associates, P.C., of Latham, N.Y., the group that helped create the sewer report for the joint committee this summer. “He wants a list in January of municipalities ready to move forward. It’s intended to stimulate new projects.�

“We’ve come to a point in our country’s history that’s not just normal business that we have from year to year as far as what’s happening to the economy,� town Supervisor Dave Sherman said. “The new administration wants to see action taken at the federal level to stimulate the economy and also to use that opportunity to address some needs across the nation. Consequently, we have the prospect of substantial funding to be made available, which we hope will materialize in due time.�

According to Flores, the two main funding entities will be Rural Development and the EFC (Environmental Facility Corporation).

“The obvious question was, is a project ‘ready to go?’� asked Flores, adding that the phrase was used by Obama when the announcement was made. He said the ENC has an annual list of projects ready to go once funding becomes available. Rural Development has no published list, but could have an internal list, according to the engineer.

“A project that’s ‘ready to go’ has a report that’s done that defines the project and has a cost to it. If you don’t have at least that, as far they’re concerned, there’s no project,� he said. “A feasibility report would satisfy that.�

That’s the point the town and village are now at — deciding whom to hire to draft a feasibility report. So far the two municipalities have a general report from the Joint Sewer Committee, which was submitted in August. That report includes a map of the proposed sewer districts, the scope of the proposed project, the costs of the project, possible funding sources and other recommendations. It’s considered a good jumping-off point from which the town and village can base a feasibility study.

“With a feasibility study we would have the ability to go forward to prospective funding agencies to see what assistance they can provide to fund that project,� Sherman said. “Generally speaking, what happens is after some funding information becomes available, an actual proposal, typically considered a map plan and report, would be drawn up and prepared as a written document. It would be presented to the public for consideration by either petition or a public vote. So you can see, there are many steps that have to be taken.�

Most likely funding would be through grants and loans, which would stretch grant dollars even further.

“Once you have it and look at the numbers, then you make a decision. Can this community afford it?� Trotta said, adding that there could be different options in applying for funds. The applicant could be North East, Millerton, both municipalities together, Dutchess County or all three combined.

He also said the area is at an advantage due to its income levels.

“North East and Millerton are at the bottom of the income levels [in the county],� he said. “That’s fortunate. If the county is not on the application, it should be made by them.�

Flores gave the board an estimated cost of $11,000 to do the feasibility study, which would be paid for by both municipalities ($5,500 each). He said it would take four to six weeks to complete the report. The Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority (DCWWA), meanwhile, can also help facilitate the study, but it would take a lot longer, according to Project Facilitator Jonathan Churins. DCWWA would first send out an RFP (Request for Proposals), then help select an engineer, offer staff support, conduct necessary studies, and likely not be done with the feasibility study until May. The advantage is that the county would pay for about one third of the cost (which has not yet been set).

Joint Sewer Committee member Albert Francke warned against taking too much time.

“The bottom line is if our feasibility study isn’t done we are not in the game. That’s it,� he said. “There are lots of procedures after that. The issue is if you don’t start, time runs out. If we don’t start, we don’t play — period.�

Francke agreed the town and village have the advantage of being statistically poor, and that those figures should lift it to a “higher degree of consideration� when applying for sewer funds.

Village Trustee Debbie Middlebrook asked if residents will have a chance to weigh in before the process proceeds.

“Don’t residents of the village or town get to vote on if they want this, because it’s coming out of their pocketbooks?� she asked from the audience while at last week’s meeting.

“We’re  getting to see what financing is coming available, so we have to go through several steps to put together something for the public before we can present it to the public,â€� Sherman said.

Yes, a sewer is needed

The money will be put to good use, according to Trotta, who said that the village and town likely have a reputation for their poor wastewater situation.

“I would think that when Millerton is mentioned by the Department of Health that eyebrows raise and eyes roll,� he said. “Is that right?�

“I’ve spoken with the sanitarian in the area and he definitely believes a sewer is needed in the area,� said Churins.

It was decided that a feasibility study was clearly needed.

“Without one we’re dead in the water,� town Councilman Carl Stahovec said.

Trotta suggested the Town Board move to designate $5,500 for its share of the cost of the study. However, Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky said he wants to see a joint contract both the town and village can sign first.

The decision of whether to pursue an RFP or jump right into a feasibility study will be discussed once again at tonight’s Town Board meeting, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., at Town Hall. There will also be a scope of work proposal to review from Dutchess Water and Wastewater. The town also asked C.T. Male to develop its proposal and incorporate it into a contract document that would have been transmitted to both the town’s and village’s legal counsel as well as the county’s water authority in time to be acted upon by tonight’s meeting.

Meanwhile, the town and village are gearing up for a Joint Sewer Committee meeting on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Route 44. Property owners are encouraged to attend to learn about the committee’s findings and what its next step is. Those who would like a chance to review the sewer report before attending the meeting may do so at Town Hall or the library.

“I think the committee feels fairly strongly that a sewer or wastewater treatment facility for the community is very much needed,� Sherman said. “There may be some who will argue with that, and those points will be discussed. I think this meeting will be an opportunity for that.�