Engineer: Pottersville needs a third water well to meet demand

CHESTERTOWN | The hamlet of Pottersville needs to develop at least one new well to provide an adequate supply of water for the homes and businesses served by their water district, a municipal engineer advised the town of Chester board at their April 11 meeting. The water mains also need to be replaced, John Soukup of Cedarwood Engineering said. The proposal to add capacity to the water supply stemmed from the conclusions of a water district engineering study, which included a hydrological examination of water sources, town supervisor Craig Leggett said. The town now has two water wells now off Gamble Hill Road. "One more water well will provide the capacity so the maximum daily demand for water in the district can be met," Leggett said. The water mains and service laterals that need to be replaced are primarily along state Route 9 and Olmstedville Road in Pottersville, according to the engineering study. Town officials have said the existing water mains are of asbestos-concrete composition, a brittle material, and that the pipes are susceptible to breakage. In other business, the town board approved a proposal by Barton and Loguidice engineering firm to extend and update the study and report they completed last year on the Chestertown Water District's operation and infrastructure. Such enhancements to the existing study, paid for with money left over from the initial research effort, would improve the town of Chester's prospects for obtaining a grant to update the water system, Leggett said April 16. TAX EXEMPTIONS ESTABLISHED, BOOSTED Also, the board voted to increase the maximum annual income that local property owners can earn to be eligible for the local Senior Citizens Property Tax Exemption. The resolution stemmed from the town board discussion at a recent meeting about how many people can't survive on $50,000 annually. Now, seniors must earn less than $32,400 to receive the exemption. For 2024, the income limit is to match Warren County's earnings ceiling associated with their 65-plus tax exemption. Also, the board also passed a property tax exemption of 10 percent of its assessed value for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel workers after they accrue two years of service. The exemption was enabled by state legislation that was enacted several months ago. Leggett noted that the exemption that the Chester Board passed was the most generous allowed by state law. The state allows these qualifying emergency services volunteers to either take the exemption or a $200 income tax credit, but not both. The town board also discussed the consolidation of the North Creek Fire District with the North Creek Fire Protection District, and how this merger will equalize taxes across the two entities' service areas. The town of Chester has a contract with the North Creek Fire District to provide fire protection for residents across the Hudson River from the town of Johnsburg. At the town of Chester's April 11 meeting, Leggett also gave the town board a progress report on the project to construct a new town highway garage adjacent to the existing facility off Landon Hill Road. He said that a request for proposals had been issued for design services for the new garage and that responses would be forthcoming in several weeks. AREA HISTORICAL GROUPS TO COLLABORATE Town of Chester Historical Society President Bernie McCann informed the town board about a joint meeting of the historical societies of the towns of Newcomb, Minerva, Horicon, Johnsburg, Warrensburg and Chester, and how the groups can cooperate, share services, and exert a greater impact regionally. The meeting he referred to was held April 15. In other matters, the board voted to increase the workweek of the town Accounts Clerk from 20 hours to not more than 30. Also, the board voted to hire three Loon Lake Boat Wash attendants rather than the two employed in recent years. These attendants inspect boats for the presence of milfoil and other invasive aquatic species, and then decontaminate the vessels as necessary. Two experienced attendants who worked last year are returning for duty, and one will be new to the position. In other matters, the Chester town board decided to award the organizers of the Barney Barnhart Memorial Fishing Derby $1,000 in occupancy tax revenue. Also, the board voted to submit a letter to state authorities in support of an application for an on-premises Liquor License for Riverside Pines Campsites & Cabins, located off Turner Road in town.

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Engineer: Pottersville needs a third water well to meet demand

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