Milo approves sewer bypass contract plan

MILO—The Milo town board approved a contract with Marchionda Excavating for a sewer bypass during their meeting Monday, Sept. 16. Town Engineer Wayne Ackart said the bypass is intended to help the town learn if they require the pump station located at Camp Cory.
Ackart said in the original design of that sewer district it was determined there needed to be a pump station, with Camp Cory chosen as the optimum site. He said all sewage from 280 grinder pumps goes on to that pump station, which then goes on to Penn Yan and picks up an additional 100 customers. Ackart said after years of operating, the flows are much less than what that system is designed for, with significant periods of time where the pump station is not needed.
Ackart said he is confident the town can constantly bypass the pump station. He said the pump station cost was roughly $300,000 and also has a high operating cost. He said for $15,000 the town can bypass it for brief periods of time, even potentially months on end. Ackart said the maximum flow there is 60 gallons a minute, but most of the time it is much less. He said the system is expensive to operate, especially in the wintertime, that is when flows are minimal.
Councilman James Harris said the bypass should save the town a lot of electricity and eliminate the odor at the site. Ackart said the bypass cost should be covered by the savings in electricity expense. He said the decision to remove the pumping station and sell it will be left until later. Ackart said after a few years of experience with bypassing the station the town will learn if it needs to keep it or not.
In other business:
• The board approved the creation of a civil service position of Public Works Maintenance Worker and appointed Doug Marchionda Jr. to the position.
• The board voted to refer proposed adult entertainment zoning amendments to the town and county planning boards.
• A budget workshop was scheduled for Oct. 16 at 5 p.m.
• The board scheduled public hearings for a proposed fence law, junk storage law and junkyard law for their next regular meeting Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.