From left, Ellicott Town Supervisor Janet Bowman and board member James Rensel talk during Tuesday’s Ellicott Town Board meeting. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

FALCONER – The price to paint the Ellicott town water tower has skyrocketed from a few hundred thousand dollars to more than $1 million.

Because of a lack of a quorum of voting members no official action was taken during Tuesday’s Ellicott Town Board meeting. But board members did discuss things happening in the town, including the water tower project.

“The painting of the water tower is underway,” said Highway Superintendent Robert Pickett Jr. “It looks like we will have the tower up and running by Nov. 1. Right now, we have the portable pumps running. The project, when factoring in inflation and prevailing wage, will cost the town around $1.1 million.”

According to the state Department of Labor, New York’s prevailing wage standards require that contractors on state funded construction projects pay their workers no less than wage and benefit levels “prevailing” within the local construction market. These requirements are intended to protect in-state contractors and workers from those contractors who seek public work but pay below that typical in the local labor market. Prevailing wage rates are determined for each locality and differ according to occupation, title and other factors.

The prevailing wage rate for the water tower painting project is one reason the price has increased since the project was first discussed. The cost for materials has also increased over time.

In other business:

– Trustee Jim Rensel reported that he spoke with Jeremy Brown, owner of Blue Collar Workwear, Jeremy Brown, who is reporting that he is happy with his building’s location is satisfied with his customer base.

– There will be a budget workshop for the Town of Ellicott set for Sept. 24-25.