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FREDONIA – Fredonia Trustee Paul Wandel offered an update this week about the village's project to connect with the North County Water District.
Wandel devoted most of his trustee's report to the project at the Board of Trustees meeting.
He said there was an Aug. 5 meeting with LaBella, the project's engineers. "LaBella suggested the village review the preexisting water contract with the city of Dunkirk at the Vineyard Drive pump station," he said.
Wandel said officials should "Recognize that this legacy project designed water transfer rates to be 200 gallons a minute sustainable, not 800 gallons per minute. I understand that it was originally designed as an emergency water source, and therefore has limited value and capacities. Regardless, let's review this contract."
Wandel also mentioned there was "discussion regarding the location of a pump station for the water interconnect project." The pump station is envisioned at 400 square feet in area.
Wandel continued that "Labella stressed that the intermunicipal agreement between the village and the town (of Pomfret) is a high priority. LaBella stated that detailed design has commenced along Water Street for the project. Surveys are in hand, however, LaBella may need direct input and support from our DPW."
The trustee noted that updates for the project are on the village website.
He later mentioned an Aug. 14 meeting between LaBella, the Chautauqua County Department of Health, and village and North County Water District representatives. They discussed pump station sites. "Ideally it will be close to the Routes 20 and 60 roundabout," he said. Possible locations for the station are under review.
Wandel said he expects Fredonia trustees to vote at their next meeting Aug. 31 on a pump station site. "This is time sensitive and is only for the current purpose of hydraulic modeling," he said.
LaBella intends to get a "basis of design report" to state officials by Sept. 30, he said.
Wandel appears sensitive to long-running allegations in the village that Fredonia government officials do not offer enough information. His reports often run 10 minutes or more, and Monday's was no different.
He closed with some positive rhetoric about the project.
"We are making great forward progress with our water interconnect project. It requires nurturing a strong attention to detail," he said.