Board reviews sewer inspection work

WATKINS GLEN––The village board of trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, July 1. The trustees and Mayor Mark Swinnerton received updates from several village employees regarding the ongoing waste water intake system inspection. All agreed it is a time-consuming process.
Mayor Swinnerton informed the board 3,320 feet of sewer pipe has been filmed already and 540 feet of pipe has been cleaned. There is an additional 1,734 feet of pipe that needs to be filmed and 1,500 feet to clean. For the filming to take place, many manhole covers that had previously been covered by asphalt needed to be removed to allow access for the filming equipment. Water Superintendent Harley Connelly observed the manhole covers would need to be replaced. He noted this will be made more difficult by the fact that many of the manhole covers are nonstandard sizes.
Superintendent of Streets Donald Perry added the manhole covers should be raised to street level if they are going to be replaced. He said this is a time-consuming process and all the departments are stretched thin. Swinnerton suggested putting the manhole replacement project out to bid which would allow the village employees to focus on their regular tasks. The board did not take action on the manhole covers. The consulting firm Barton & Lajoudice which is assisting the village through the process of locating and correcting issues with the sewage intake system will be preparing a report once the inspections are completed. The board anticipates this report will provide guidance as to which manhole covers need to be replaced, if not all. Further action will likely be taken at that time.
In other business:
• Police Chief Tom Struble informed the board two new police vehicles had been ordered. The new 2013 and 2014 Ford Police Interceptors should be ready in August. At that time the old vehicles will be declared surplus and auctioned or otherwise disposed of.
• The board approved event applications for several events set to occur in the village including a personal water craft race and awards presentation and the Italian American Festival which is scheduled for Aug. 2, 3 and 4. The board also approved the July 4 fireworks show scheduled for July 4 at 9:30 p.m. in Clute Park.
The next village board of trustees regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 15 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building.