Though the company has sought out approval from the Department of Environmental Conservation, many in the town have concerns over the potential effects the pond could have toward ongoing projects.

Town Supervisor Tim Burkett stated that the town was contacted shortly before the March 11 meeting by the DEC with a letter providing information about a potential town project. The project would see a company that owns a gravel pit on Ivory Road pursuing the creation of a more than 10-acre recreational pond. Burkett stated that this will entail digging out all of the gravel to sell, and allowing the hole to fill up with water over time. Though seemingly harmless upon first hearing of the idea, many are concerned that such an idea could hinder the town’s current efforts to scout for a new well location.

“Here’s the problem. It’s right across the street from a potential well, number six, and that well is the only one we have on the table right now,” said Burkett. “So we did hire a hydrologist to take a look and start looking all over our town to see where the other good spots may be that we could shrill and have a well, other than Ivory because it’s two and a half miles to connect. And as of right now, there has not been identified anything else that is as good as well six.”

Burkett noted that the hydrologist is not yet down scouting locations throughout the town though, leaving the potential for another well location to be found at some point. Burkett stated that the hydrologist still needs to venture into the Fentonville area, however a large majority of the town has been searched at this point.

A view of the gravel piles inside the pit. P-J photo by Owen Reed

Burkett noted that the town did not need a SEQR in place at that meeting, but said that it is imperative that the town attorney draft a letter to the individuals expressing the town’s concerns as soon as possible. This is because if the town officials do not issue some type of response to the letter by March 20 then the DEC may get a SEQR without the considerations or comments discussed at the meeting, as noted by Councilman John Barber.

“It would be certainly appropriate for us. I can draft a letter from me or from the Supervisor pointing out what we’ve just discussed, that we’re looking into a potential well across the street,” said town attorney Andy Goodell. “We’re very concerned that any pond that goes across the street be designed and implemented in a way that there is no groundwater contamination, and no problem with the water itself. Obviously, if we make that comment known to the DEC, they can impose whatever standards and that’s up to the company to decide whether it’s worth meeting those standards.”