Niskayuna officials have set aside another bonding proposal, placing a $2 million water and sewer garage on the back burner.
The new facility was planned to be constructed next to the town’s highway garage on WTRY Road. Now, the current Blatnick Park facility will have to suffice for at least the near future. Town Supervisor Joe Landry previously said it is an “antiquated building.”
Councilwoman Densie Murphy McGraw, chairwoman of the town’s Public Works Committee, recommended bonding for the new facility be withdrawn for further analysis.
“There have been various questions raised regarding locating the new water and sewer maintenance facility next to the current Highway Department facility,” McGraw said in a statement. “Before we make any bonding commitments on this project, I think we need our staff to do more preliminary investigative work.”
After the Niskayuna Town Board meeting on Tuesday, May 29, McGraw said the Water and Sewer Department has “a lot of work to do” with existing projects and the upcoming inflow and infiltration study.
“(Superintendent of Engineering Richard Pollock) just has a lot of work that he has to get done; why are we going to put a multi-million dollar building on top of it?” McGraw said. “His people aren’t going to directly do it, but he’s got to supervise it and he’s got to be there.”
McGraw also said the department still has unspent funds from previously approved bonding.
McGraw said the town would “absolutely” look at revisiting the project next year. She said she didn’t “see concerns” with the current project proposal and it falls in line with its previous use as a bus garage.
The town acquired the WTRY Road property during a land swap with the school district around a year ago. The districted traded the town for open space between Town Hall and the high school.
The project wasn’t withdrawn due to opposition, McGraw said, but rather to ensure everything “moves smoothly” throughout the year. She said there wasn’t “a lot of people” attending board meetings with concerns about the project.
The Town Board on Tuesday, May 29, unanimously approved bonding $220,000 for other Water and Sewer Department requests, which include $50,000 to conduct an inflow and infiltration study, $70,000 to purchase an emergency truck and $100,000 to purchase a generator for the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Councilman Jonathan McKinney was absent from the meeting due to a work conflict.
Pollock said during the agenda meeting on Thursday, May 17, the town was planning to replace five water values, which is estimated to cost $50,000 from previously bonded funds.
McGraw said in addition to focusing on solving the inflow and infiltration problem, she wants to make sure enhancements are made to the transfer station.
She said residents raising concerns about the transfer station being underutilized and needing improvements brought the facility to her attention.
“There was really a hue and cry about making it better and making it more relevant,” McGraw said.
The Town Board previously approved four bond packages totaling $913,000, which included various repairs, purchases and upgrades throughout the town. The largest item was bonding $500,000 for infrastructure improvements for reconstruction and resurfacing roads, which includes drainage, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, landscaping, grading and right-of-way improvements.
