The Bethlehem Town Board has approved a plan to bond $2.6 million for sewer improvements in North Bethlehem.
On Wednesday, Jan. 23, town Engineer Paul Penman presented the board with information on the upgrades. A 2007 sewer impact study originally addressed the effect on sewer infrastructure in North Bethlehem and Slingerlands due to new development.
“What we found was that the Delaware Avenue pump station, which this whole area drains through, was at capacity, and almost over capacity,” said Penman. “It really couldn’t take any more flows.”
At the same time, the town found there to be a problem with the interceptor sewer. It was also at capacity and would need to be replaced with a larger capacity size needed for future development.
A plan was put into place to extend the system from Cherry Avenue to Feura Bush. This would divert the flow and take some pressure off of the Delaware Avenue pump station, said Penman. The project would also include repairs to additional sewer lines to allow for future development.
Penman said eventually the entire line will need to be fixed in five or 10 years, but the section identified is worse off.
The town had received a $3 million grant, but the entire project was expected to cost $5 million. The project was split into two phases until enough money was found to finish. Town officials have since been told Bethlehem is eligible for a state subsidized finance rate of 1.5 percent over 30 years to bond for the remainder of the project. This could save the town up to $1.5 million over the life of the bond. The deadline to apply for the lower finance rate is Feb. 1.
Town Comptroller Mike Cohen said the bond would cost the owner of a home valuedat $100,000 about $3.70. However, the town recently closed on a water bond from 2004, so for the next 10 years, resident should only see a slight sewer increase because of the new bond.
“They almost cancel each other out,” said Cohen. The bond can also be excluded from the town’s debt limit.
No resident spoke at a public hearing on the proposal. The bond was unanimously approved without discussion, excepting Councilwoman Joann Dawson, who was absent.
Penman said because of the bonding the project will no longer be split into different phases, but instead be done at one time. Preparations are expected to begin in the fall, with construction beginning next January. The project will then take a year to complete.
“I think this is really important infrastructure that needs to be replaced, and the town will see a significant savings by doing it at this time,” he said.
The paper version of this story read that the sewer tax increase for a property valued at $100,000 would be $370. It has been corrected online to read $3.70. We regret the error.