The Town of Cobleskill has begun steps to take the remaining easements it needs for its $9.2 million water and sewer project by eminent domain.
There's "just a handful" of easements they haven't yet been able to secure, Supervisor Tom Murray said Monday, but until they have them, the project is stalled.
The easements are for infrastructure-essentially pipes.
"We've met with some of these people five and six times," Mr. Murray said. "We've overcome all of their objections. But they still won't come in."
Bill Ryan, attorney for the project, said there are a couple of ways the town can take the easements.
He suggested Mr. Murray and councilmen pass a resolution indicating they plan to take the right-of-ways they need by eminent domain and mail copies of it out to the affected landowners-who would have 30 days to protest it.
"If none contest it, the town can file a petition to acquire the easements," Mr. Ryan said.
Councilman Sherwood Veith pointed out it's the beginning of the construction season and asked how long the process would take.
"Best case? Sixty days," Mr. Ryan answered.
In other water and sewer project news, Mr. Murray said the town has been able to secure about $2 million in "liquid" construction loans it needs to break ground from Key Bank.
That's an important step because much of the grants already awarded will be paid out on a reimbursement basis.