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Officials learned Monday that federal money will most likely not be paying for a much-needed upgrade to the village’s over 30-year-old wastewater treatment plant.
So now the Herkimer taxpayers can expect to pay in full.
Herkimer Village Board members voted to begin the application process for an over $1.6 million United States Department of Agriculture loan for the project.
Homeowners in the village that pay on average $300 a year for sewer service would see a $30 increase on the sewer portion of their water bill, village officials said of the loan’s financial toll.
Mayor Mark Ainsworth said the village will continue to seek government funding but the project will probably require a loan. “There has to be an upgrade,” he added.
It is why the project may not be receiving assistance that has village officials frustrated, however.
Anthony Carlisto, representing the firm (Ward Associaites) that conducted engineering studies at a cost of $5,000 for the village’s grant application, said he recommends starting the application because the USDA - which has federal stimulus funds left - only offered a loan.
Calls to USDA officials were not returned.
Several village officials said there is a reason the project will likely receive a loan instead of a grant: Herkimer’s treatment plant has been kept up to code.
Steven Litwhiler, DEC spokesman, said in a phone interview state-mandated upgrades for facilities not up to code get a higher ranking for receiving government funds.
Scott Blais, village Sewer and Water Department supervisor, said the plant has lasted this long due to a significant amount being spent on in-house upgrades and maintenance. Blais said he was unable to provide village labor costs for the work.
The region’s federal representatives (Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Michael Arcuri) recently announced their push to prioritize funding for upgrades to the Oneida County and Utica sewer systems.
The county project - estimated to cost over $150 - is under state order to make upgrades by 2014, according to Schumer. The city project, which aims to stop health risks caused by system overflow spilling sewage into the Mohawk River during heavy rains, is also estimated to cost $150 million, Schumer said.
The representatives called for federal funding for the projects through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, administered by the state Environmental Facilities Corporation.
“Paying for the projects would place a crushing burden on homeowners, ratepayers and businesses,” Schumer stated.
Herkimer’s plant, however, is not under any state order. But there is no doubt it must be upgraded to meet increasing capacity demands and avoid breakdowns, village and state Department of Environmental Conservation officials both said.
Litwhiler said he is aware of the plant overflowing at least once during a high-flow period, coming in March of this year. The waste water spilled into the Mohawk River.
“We’re looking at an issue of untreated waste spilling over into the waters of New York state,” Litwhiler said. There are human health concerns and issues for the environment, he added.
Despite the average wastewater treatment plant statewide requiring upgrades due to age, Litwhiler feels municipalities can save and avoid emergency situations by acting as fast as possible.
“The time to do it is now,” he said of the Herkimer plant, “before it does come to a crisis level.”
Officials learned Monday that federal money will most likely not be paying for a much-needed upgrade to the village’s over 30-year-old wastewater treatment plant.
So now the Herkimer taxpayers can expect to pay in full.
Herkimer Village Board members voted to begin the application process for an over $1.6 million United States Department of Agriculture loan for the project.
Homeowners in the village that pay on average $300 a year for sewer service would see a $30 increase on the sewer portion of their water bill, village officials said of the loan’s financial toll.
Mayor Mark Ainsworth said the village will continue to seek government funding but the project will probably require a loan. “There has to be an upgrade,” he added.
It is why the project may not be receiving assistance that has village officials frustrated, however.
Anthony Carlisto, representing the firm (Ward Associaites) that conducted engineering studies at a cost of $5,000 for the village’s grant application, said he recommends starting the application because the USDA - which has federal stimulus funds left - only offered a loan.
Calls to USDA officials were not returned.
Several village officials said there is a reason the project will likely receive a loan instead of a grant: Herkimer’s treatment plant has been kept up to code.
Steven Litwhiler, DEC spokesman, said in a phone interview state-mandated upgrades for facilities not up to code get a higher ranking for receiving government funds.
Scott Blais, village Sewer and Water Department supervisor, said the plant has lasted this long due to a significant amount being spent on in-house upgrades and maintenance. Blais said he was unable to provide village labor costs for the work.
The region’s federal representatives (Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Michael Arcuri) recently announced their push to prioritize funding for upgrades to the Oneida County and Utica sewer systems.
The county project - estimated to cost over $150 - is under state order to make upgrades by 2014, according to Schumer. The city project, which aims to stop health risks caused by system overflow spilling sewage into the Mohawk River during heavy rains, is also estimated to cost $150 million, Schumer said.
The representatives called for federal funding for the projects through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, administered by the state Environmental Facilities Corporation.
“Paying for the projects would place a crushing burden on homeowners, ratepayers and businesses,” Schumer stated.
Herkimer’s plant, however, is not under any state order. But there is no doubt it must be upgraded to meet increasing capacity demands and avoid breakdowns, village and state Department of Environmental Conservation officials both said.
Litwhiler said he is aware of the plant overflowing at least once during a high-flow period, coming in March of this year. The waste water spilled into the Mohawk River.
“We’re looking at an issue of untreated waste spilling over into the waters of New York state,” Litwhiler said. There are human health concerns and issues for the environment, he added.
Despite the average wastewater treatment plant statewide requiring upgrades due to age, Litwhiler feels municipalities can save and avoid emergency situations by acting as fast as possible.
“The time to do it is now,” he said of the Herkimer plant, “before it does come to a crisis level.”
