Scotia and Glenville officials are revisiting a proposal to construct a joint sewer plant as the expense of using Schenectady’s aging facility increases.
Glenville officials on Thursday, Dec. 6, sent a request for proposals to three engineering firms to pinpoint the cost of building a new sewer facility, with quotes due back Jan. 4. Town and village officials are hoping to determine if it is a more feasible option than continuing to pay sewage discharge fees to the City of Schenectady, which total around $1 million for the two municipalities.
Reread 2007 news stories covering the start and end of discussions to construct a new sewer plant.
SCOTIA: Joint sewer talks begin
SCOTIA: Joint sewer talks over
Delaware Engineering completed a study in 2007 and estimated a new sewage treatment plant would cost around $12 million using existing lines. The plant would have been built along the Mohawk River.
“We believe we may actually save money by running our own plant,” Glenville Supervisor Christopher Koetzle said. “It has been a couple years since it has been looked at and a lot of has changed, so we are interested to see where it is going to come in.”
After the previous study concluded it wouldn’t be cost effective for the municipalities to build their own facility, Scotia renegotiated its contract with Schenectady. The city is the sole outlet for all of the village’s sewage discharge.
“Years ago, we did look at a joint sewage treatment plant with the town and at that time it didn’t really seem practical,” Scotia Mayor Kris Kastberg said. “The Schenectady plant is in need of some major renovations and repairs that we are going to be required to pay with our contract with them.”
Now, Kastberg thinks keeping sewage on the same side of the Mohawk River could be a better financial move.
“In my mind, it makes some sense,” Kastberg said. “When you farm something like that out, then Schenectady is the sole suppler for that of that service … we are going to be held to their needs for revenue.”
In 2011, Scotia paid around $700,000 in sewage discharge fees to the city, and a similar charge is expected this year. The village is currently renegotiating its contract with the city.
The actual sewage discharge fees aren’t increasing for the village or town, but state ordered capital improvements at the facility will increase expenses. Sewage discharge is generally increasing, too.
The town and village are both in different situations than when the former study was completed.
Koetzle said the town has experienced a lot of residential growth and some commercial growth, with more development expected along the Route 50 corridor. Socha Plaza’s expansion and looming housing development will further tax the sewer system. The collapsed Scotia Navy Depot building is being demolished, and that is hoped to spur redevelopment in the village.
Panera Bread is also expected to break ground near the new Glenville Target within weeks, according to Koetzle. An exact date hasn’t been set, but once construction starts it’s expected to be completed in six to nine months, he said.
“There is a lot coming on, we have to make sure we can handle the capacity for it,” Koetzle said. “Glenville is a hot town to be in right now and we just have to meet the challenges of growth.”
Glenville Public Works Commissioner Tom Coppola said a newer plant would be more easily upgradeable as needs change. The sewage treatment plant project would include extending the town’s sewer line from where it ends on Route 50 near Price Chopper to the town line, which is more attractive for economic development.
“We feel that our destiny needs to be in our own hands here,” Coppola said. “Our town has a lot of future growth.”
Kastberg echoed Coppola’s remarks and said controlling expenses is an important benefit to the project.
“We will control our own destiny on this,” Kastberg said. “The modern design and modern methods of treatment are so much cleaner and efficient that to build a new plant is really going to be a good option for us.”
Koetzle is unsure if the Schenectady could even take on the additional discharge from future developments.
“It might not be an option for us to remain in Schenectady,” Koetzle said. “We are hearing there is a lot of concern on how much we are developing and how much they are going to be able to take online.”
Town officials are also hoping to upgrade streetlights and sidewalks around the town center on Route 50. The upgraded lighting would resemble what’s in front of Target. After the lighting is completed, a second phase of upgrades would follow, including constructing sidewalks to make the area more pedestrian friendly.
The estimated cost to complete the lighting project is around $300,000 to $400,000 depending on what scenario is pursued, Koetzle said. Town officials have tapped Metroplex to fund the project, pointing to similar projects it’s funded in the city.
“We believe this fits perfectly with the Metroplex mission,” Koetzle said. “This would be the exact same project just in Glenville, so we anticipate we will get Metroplex help with this.”
The cost of the new lighting district would be placed on the businesses along the corridor.