Glenville officials are making plans to stay afloat should historic flooding once again hit the area.
The Glenville Town Board held its organizational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 4, following the swearing in ceremonies for officials elected in November. There were the standard annual resolutions needed to prepare for the year ahead, but there were some new initiatives approved, as well.
The town board unanimously approved insuring the town water plant, located at 24 Van Buren Lane, for a total of $1 million through two different plans. The town is purchasing $500,000 worth of insurance, subject to a $50,000 deductible, through FEMA for a cost of $6,517. The town will use $499 from the town water fund balance in the buy.
Supervisor Christopher Koetzle said the town could only insure the water plant up to $500,000 through FEMA, but town officials deemed insurance up to $1 million appropriate for the property.
“We believed it would be prudent for us to insure that plant against damage caused by flooding,” Koetzle said. “It was obviously as a result of the historic flood that we witnessed with Irene that really brought to light the clear danger that our water plant is in.”
Another $500,000 of insurance is being purchased through Argonaut, also with a $50,000 deductible, at a cost of $950 by coupling it with FEMA’s coverage. The $950 will also come from the water fund balance.
“Cool Insurance (one of the town’s insurers) recommends that we get this coverage, we have a lot of risks coming at us,” said Town Comptroller George Phillips. “There is a lot of pros and cons that you can think about, but the best advice that we got at this point is that we probably should buy coverage.”
There wasn’t previously flood coverage because the water plant is located in Flood Zone A, meaning the plant was not thought to be in significant danger of being flooded, according to Koetzle. During recent flooding, he said water came “within feet” of the plant.
“What was once thought as not possible became very real,” Koetzle said. “One could argue we had a 100 year flood, but I think the likelihood it could actually flood now is much greater than previously believed.”
He added it seemed prudent to not hold off on insuring the plant.
“It really wouldn’t be a benefit to wait,” Koetzle said. “Particularly this winter has been warm and wet … so it makes sense to get the protection we need in place as quickly as possible.”
Committee member notes flooding trends
The board also appointed members of a study group focusing on protecting the town’s water supply to the newly established Glenville Wellfield Protection Committee.
The new committee’s mission remains similar to that of the group before it: identifying any potential threats to the town’s water supply and developing strategies or programs to minimize or eliminate any threats. The seven-member committee consists of Chairman Carl George, Phil Adams, John Garver, Sarah Newell, Jason Pelton, Jacqueline Smith and Cal Welch.
“The board commissioned the study group prior to the floods,” Koetzle said. “As the flood became a reality it added another dynamic to what the group was doing … the potential for a flood has become a primary concern for the committee.”
George said recent flooding from Irene and Lee gave committee members “real concern” about the water plant’s vulnerability to flood damage.
“Several of us proposed to the Town Board that a special study be established,” George said. “I am delighted that such a committee has been formally accepted.”
George, a professor at Union College, said his colleague and fellow committee member John Garver has closely reviewed United States Geological Survey water flow records of the Mohawk River. George said Garver has noticed trends indicating an increased occurrence of flooding.
“It shows a significant trend for more storm events on the watershed of the Mohawk River and sure enough the recent storms tend to confirm Professor Dr. Garver’s work,” George said.
He said the committee is interested in the quality of the storm water entering into the watershed, safety of the railroad operating near the water plant and effects of adjacent communities releasing wastewater into the subsoil.
“They’re all very tentative issues that we need very formal advice on,” he said.
One of the greatest concerns, he added, is management of the Erie Barge Canal. He commented on how during recent flooding, woody debris collected in the dams, which resulted in water going around blockages and carving out sections of land.
“It is certainly the most impactful flood in terms of general damage to the system in the history of the canal. This has been the most brutal and bruising in the canal’s history,” George said. “It is so important that we do a good job, because I think … the future of our region depends on having good water quality.”
The print version of this story appearing in the Jan. 12 edition of The Schenectady County Spotlight inaccurately credited Town Comptroller George Phillips’ quote to Town Planner Kevin Corcoran. The Spotlight regrets this error and apologizes for any confusion it may have caused.
