The Silver Lake Town Council held a public hearing Wednesday to discuss a sewer planning project during its December meeting.
The project aims to add on to the existing sewer system so that flooding due to rain can be contained better. Right now, three lift stations move waste water to a lagoon that filters the water and puts it back out into the ecosystem. When heavy rains, like the ones experienced in Kosciusko this summer, occur, the pipes from these stations are too small to effectively process all the water.
Midwest Engineers Inc. has been tasked with the design of the new system. It plans to add a bigger water main from the center of town, which will make the biggest difference overall. It also will look to update pumps and add more storm sewers where needed.
The council is working to receive a grant to cover a portion of the costs. Without factoring in that grant, the total cost of the project would be $836,200, according to Mark Sullivan of Midwest Engineers. Sullivan advised that this cost is estimated higher than it will realistically be. This would increase sewage rates for citizens by $14.02 monthly. If the grant is factored in to the total price, that price would be $336,200 and rates would only increase by $5.82. The grant would come from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Shannon McLeod of Priority Project Resources is the grant writer.
The board accepted the plan from Sullivan and expects to know more information by the next board meeting. The town plans to authorize a planning and environmental report by January and will spend the year working toward the grant. Construction is projected to start by April 2017. More information will be provided at a later date.
In other news, firefighter Brad Spratt announced his retirement from the Silver Lake Fire Department, where he served over 21 years. Fire Chief John Conley also noted appreciation for Dave Reed, who has served for 25 years.
The board then approved the purchase of a new front-end loader for the street and sewer department for $14,000.
(Story By The Times Union)
