Ticonderoga water system must be replaced

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February 4, 2012

â Income surveys crucial to win grants; less than 50 percent have been sent back

LOHR McKINSTRY Press-Republican The Press Republican Sat Feb 04, 2012, 02:28 AM EST

TICONDEROGA — Ticonderoga needs all the grants it can get as its public water system heads for a planned revamp of almost $14 million.

The upgrade is being forced on the town by the State Department of Health, which says Ti can no longer use its primary surface-water source, Gooseneck Pond.

But not enough income surveys of residents and businesses — crucial to state and federal funding for the project — have been returned, Town Supervisor Debra Malaney said.

Not quite 50 percent were turned in, but criteria for grants that are essential for funding the new system require a minimum of 90 percent resident and business participation.

So town officials are asking everyone who didn't return a survey to do so. The one-page forms can be picked up at the Ticonderoga Community Building on Montcalm Street.

"We need those surveys," Malaney said. "They are entirely confidential. No one here sees them. They go directly to the IDA."

The Essex County Industrial Development Agency in Elizabethtown is assisting the town with loan and grant applications for the project.

KEPT CONFIDENTIAL

Only 806 out of 1,681 surveys have been returned, County IDA Co-Director Jody Olcott said.

"We track it by water district, and no one sees these except us. It (the low return) could potentially affect the funding."

The result could be that Ticonderoga would have to borrow more money for the new water system, increasing customer bills.

The town did qualify for low- or no-interest loans from the State Environmental Facilities Corp., she said.

"They scored high enough, extremely well, in terms of need. We've got a good start on it (the project)."

The town also uses Lake George as a secondary water source but plans to abandon use of that and Gooseneck Pond for public water. Instead, Ti wants to drill a series of industrial wells.

Testing for the wells took place a week ago, and several promising locations were identified, Olcott said.

"Now, you want to take advantage of all the grant dollars and low-interest loans you can. They really need to do it (finish the survey)."

'NOT MUCH TIME'

The town had hoped to replace its reservoir for Gooseneck Pond with holding tanks, which would have been cheaper, at $6 million, but problems arose with the water-service mains and Gooseneck Dam.

Using wells instead would cost an estimated $13.8 million, Malaney said, but the income survey would enable the town to start with a $2 million grant.

Once they start drilling the wells, which is expected within 45 days, the estimated project cost may change, Olcott said.

"If the well option is feasible, we'll know what the final number (cost) is."

Olcott said it cost about $1,200 in printing and mailing costs for the income survey, and stamped, addressed envelopes were sent with all surveys so they could easily be returned.

"We need to get them in. It's important."

The town is considering going door to door to get the surveys filled out, Olcott said, and they may enlist the Ticonderoga High School government class to help.

She said the Department of Health has given the town until 2015 to bring a new water source online.

"When you consider finding funding, designing the project, getting permits, going out to bid and then actual construction, we really don't have much time."

Email Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com