Town pursues county grant for salt and sand shed relocation

NORTH EAST — The Town Board discussed pursuing a grant for a water quality improvement project through the consolidated funding application process at its August meeting.

According to Councilman Chris Kennan, who filled out the application, the grant would be for relocating the sand and salt shed from its current location at the town’s highway garage on South Center Street to the new, yet-to-be-built highway garage site on Route 22.

The town has applied for $485,000 through the 50% matching grant (for a total of $970,000).

“I think we will appeal to the state’s CFA [Consolidated Funding Application] program,” said Kennan. “The current site is partially covered, partially uncovered on the Webatuck Creek. It’s inappropriate.”

That’s because salt from the shed likely leaches out and into the creek. Up to 700 tons of materials are stored there.

The new garage will be a shared facility with the village of Millerton. Kennan said the project has “a lot of appeal to the state because it’s a shared service.”

The current highway facility then becomes available for reuse,  he added, though it’s difficult to say what it would be suited for as the building is in a state of disrepair. The new garage, though, has a lot of promise. 

The site of that garage is 3.5 acres in size on Route 22, north of the main traffic light. It was purchased for $6,587.12 in back taxes in 2018. 

Phase one includes the construction of the storage shed and the fueling depot. Phase two is for the construction of the sand and salt shed. Phase three is for the construction of the garage/administrative building.

A number of grants have been obtained by the town to help with design, engineering and construction costs. So far in grants, the town has received, for phase one, a total of $240,000; for phase two it’s received $327,000; and for phase three it’s seeking half of the CFA grant that totals $970,000, which comes to $485,000. The new CFA grant, if awarded, would be especially appreciated, agreed the Town Board.

“It’s a very appealing grant,” said Kennan, “and we’re very hopeful of securing the grant. It would relieve the burden that otherwise falls on town taxpayers.”

The town hopes to learn of whether it will be awarded the grant by December.

Councilman John Midwood said he’s hopeful.

“We’ve got a good track record there,” he said of the town’s ability to garner grant dollars. “Hopefully, we’ll get another one.”

“Grants are funny,” said town Supervisor George Kaye. “Years ago, we never got that many grants… Once we were able to get them, and to utilize them, it’s made it easier to get them… Thanks, Chris.”

The rest of the board acknowledged its appreciation of Kennan for pursuing the grant, which he has similarly done for other town projects.