Rt. 7 water, sewer finished

7/14/2015

By Patsy Nicosia

Cobleskill’s Route 7 water and sewer project is done, under budget, and ready for hookups, John McDonald of McDonald Engineering told about a dozen residents at a meeting Monday.
“It’s been a long process,” said Cobleskill Supervisor Leo McAllister.
“Now, we’re here to try to figure out how to make the project work.”
The town and village are still working out details on an intermunicipal agreement for the water and sewer, Mr. McAllister said, but he expects that to be finalized soon.
Cobleskill’s project was funded through four grants and contributions from Howe Caverns, making it pretty unusual, Mr. McDonald said, because there is no debt service.
Typically, he said, a project like Cobleskill’s could cost residents $500-$600 a year in debt service alone.
But that doesn’t mean it’s free.
The next step—hooking up—is up to property owners.
The procedure and requirements for residents and commercial properties are slightly different, but both must get the needed water and sewer hookup permits from the Village Water and Sewer Treatment Plants—though they may eventually be available online.
There is a tapping fee for both permits—about $1,300 for both water and sewer—but they’ll be waived for anyone who hooks up within the next 24 months.
Property owners will need to hire a plumber to put in a service line from the curb-stop to their home for both water and sewer.
They’ll also need to put in a grinder pump if they’re hooking up to sewer.
Estimated cost for the pump alone is $5,400; with installation it’s closer to $8,000-$11,000.
Councilmen acknowledged that’s substantial.
“But I can’t help but think that over time, it will help your resale value,” said Mr. McAllister.
All users must also purchase a water meter from the village at cost.
Water Superintendent Joe Redmond said both Stewart’s and Hess have already hooked onto the system and have found they’re saving in time and expense by not having to monitor their own wells.
“They don’t have to do the tests now, we do,” he said.
There was some discussion over whether the town might be able to make low-interest loans available for the necessary work.
Though he stressed he was making no promises, Mr. McAllister said that’s something they’re looking into.
Homeowners aren’t required to connect, but may connect to either water or sewer or both.
Commercial properties must connect to water, and within five years, must also connect to sewer.
Both water and sewer will be billed at 1.5 times the in-village rate, something that will be reviewed annually.
“The system can’t make a profit,” Mr. McAllister said. “Costs could go down. But we have to have the usage to make this work.”