Quoted Text

NISKAYUNA
Town considers building $1.4M water/sewer garage
BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.net.

Niskayuna is looking to build a new water and sewer garage near its highway garage on WTRY Road, Town Supervisor Joe Landry said.
The new garage would replace a decades-old building off River Road at Blatnick Park, Landry said.
The maximum estimated cost of the new building is set at just over $1.4 million, with the cost expected to be bonded and prorated between the water and sewer districts.
Landry, though, said town offi - cials expect the total to be less than that number.
No official bids have been sought yet.
Public hearings on the proposed improvement have been set for the Town Board’s regular meeting Feb. 28.
Landry estimated the old building off River Road is 50 to 60 years old, “way beyond its useful life.” It’s also cramped with the modern machinery that must be kept inside during the winter, he said. “You have to be an expert at driving big trucks to get them all in the building,” Landry said.
    Another advantage is that the new building would be located on WTRY Road, next to the town highway garage. That placement, Landry said, will help in maintaining the town’s water and sewer fleet, as well as the highway fl eet.
    “Now you’re going to have all the mechanics in one area, all the gas is in one area, all the wash bays in one area,” Landry said. “It’s going to benefit the town because everything’s in one place.”
    The water and sewer garage bonding would be included in a group bond the town would seek as early as next month, Landry said.
    What other projects, if any, would be included in that bonding are yet to be determined, Landry said. Department heads are working on proposals.
    Town Board member Jonathan McKinney said the new garage makes sense, but he questioned whether it was being given priority over the more pressing sewer issue that led to the threat of a Department of Environmental Conservation building moratorium.
    “Is that a more imminent need than putting the $1.5 million into the [sewer] problem?” he asked.
    Landry said that is a separate issue and the town is working to fix the problems cited by the DEC, namely to reduce flows to the District 6 sewer plant. ......................>>>>...................>>>>......................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01002&AppName=1