Chris McKenna
Kiryas Joel's plans to tap the Catskill Aqueduct are moving forward despite a second lawsuit by Orange County challenging the environmental review for the water project.
Shortly after the county filed suit July 30, village officials submitted an engineering report anticipating no apparent delay in their schedule: They planned to begin designing and getting permits for the 12.5-mile pipeline this fall and to start construction in 2010.
Officials filed that report with the state Environmental Facilities Corp. in August as part of an application for a short-term loan for the project, now estimated to cost $29 million.
A month earlier, the village bought a road and 21.5 vacant acres near Riley Road in New Windsor, where it plans to tap New York City's underground water tunnel and build a pump station.
And in recent weeks, a contractor began tinkering with a long-dormant well field in Cornwall that could prove to be a critical backup water source for Kiryas Joel.
The village obtained the four wells — once the water supply for the defunct Star Expansion factory in Cornwall — in 2005 and may need them to satisfy a requirement that it keep as much water in reserve as it would draw from the Catskill Aqueduct, in case the tunnel is ever closed for repairs.
Village officials have previously suggested that they could add the Star Expansion wells to their supply by connecting the former factory's pipes to the aqueduct pipeline, which would pass nearby on Route 32.
The pipeline would cross Woodbury and Cornwall, carrying New York City's upstate reservoir water to a new treatment plant off Seven Springs Road in Woodbury and then to Kiryas Joel, according to the August engineering report.
The report indicates that the village's 16 wells just barely meet its normal water demands, since two wells are inoperable and two others cannot be used until they are drilled deeper.
For almost a decade, community leaders have pursued the aqueduct connection as a long-term water source for Kiryas Joel's booming population, but they hit a legal snag in 2004 when opponents persuaded the county to challenge the environmental review in court.
Both then and this year, the county has contended that the village has failed to adequately explain the project's impact on wastewater treatment and other environmental issues.
12 comments:
Cricket.
Unk,
Nobody gives a crap about this stuff, put something else up.
How about we look at the fact that there are now ZERO Republicans on the town board once Gerri departs. Is there anyone on there that we can at least hope will bring some sanity and balance of power/reason?
No i don't think so. Gerri is the last of the Mohegans.
We thank all the Woodbury residents who took the time to vote, along with our appreciation to those that shared our views, concerns, town issues, goals, and voted for us, Election Day, Nov. 3, 2009. We thank those who wrote letters, placed campaign signs on their lawns, and we thank the Republican and Conservative Parties for their endorsements.
We have worked for this community in many different capacities for many years and are proud to have run a clean campaign with issues and facts.
With the final figures in, it is very interesting that 2,075 people voted, 31 percent of the 6,612 who are registered to vote in Woodbury.
Sincerely,
Ralph Caruso and George Pedersen
Candidates for Woodbury Town Board
---------
Is there a single election they lose where they don't whine about turnout?
What makes you think that sanity and balance isn't already there with the ones we will have come January?? Geri was one person. The Board is five (duh) and has been working well save the pond debacle but that was initiated by a full Republican Board.
Hey Ralph, why is it "very interesting" that 31% turned out to vote? That's actually at or slightly above average compared to past off-year local elections.
Quit your whining and go away!
There hasn't been a full Republican board in over four years. What a stretch to blame them.
What Ralph needs to realize is that had there been a better turnout the percentage that Frank and James won by would still be the same.
Every time he loses he blames someone or lack of voters. He should just look within himself and he would know the answer.
Boring !!!!
Anyone else get an email from Jim? At least he seems to put in the effort.
Yes, I sent out an e-newsletter to my Woodbury list yesterday. I'm going to try to send one out once every month with local government news and a town calendar of events.
If you'd like to subscribe, just contact me with your email address and I'll put you on the list (my contact info is on my website). Likewise, let me know if you have news or an event you'd like to share and I'll include it in the next issue.
Happy and healthy holidays everyone!
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