MONTICELLO – The Village of Monticello took a major step toward overhauling its aging water infrastructure during last Wednesday night’s regular Village Board meeting, approving bids for a new water treatment plant that has been more than a decade in the making.

The board unanimously approved a series of resolutions awarding contracts for Phase 1 of the Water Systems Improvement Project, including:

• A resolution awarding the lowest bid to W.M. Schultz in the amount of $6,092,500 for general construction.

• A resolution awarding the lowest bid to Treffeisen & Sons LLC in the amount of $946,900 for electrical construction.

• A resolution awarding the lowest bid to Treffeisen & Sons LLC in the amount of $359,300 for plumbing construction.

• A resolution awarding the lowest bid to DJ Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in the amount of $239,000 for mechanical construction.

During his manager’s report, Village Manager James Snowden said the approvals marked a milestone for a project that has been nearly 12 years in development. He noted that at one point the village came close to losing funding for the project altogether.

Snowden credited village officials for keeping the effort moving forward despite setbacks, saying their persistence ultimately ensured the project remained viable.

“Your concern for the project finally paid off,” Snowden said. “Phase II has now been approved by the New York State Health Department and the Department of Environmental Conservation, and that will also be out to bid shortly.”

According to previous reporting by the Democrat, the water system project represents a shift away from decades of temporary repairs toward a full system replacement. Roy Richardson, an engineer with Barton & Loguidice, previously described the village’s former approach as a series of “band-aid” fixes that failed to address deeper structural problems.

Richardson noted that the village had to confront what he described as the “past sins” of its infrastructure, including a treatment plant at Kiamesha Lake that had reached the end of its functional life and water mains so deteriorated that nearly 50 percent of treated water was lost to leaks.

The comprehensive $38 million overhaul includes construction of a new treatment facility and replacement of leaking storage tanks on Hospital Hill, a scope that helps explain the project’s lengthy development timeline as the village transitioned from minor repairs to a system-wide replacement.

Trustee Theodore Hutchins took a moment to acknowledge Snowden and Village Clerk Janine Gandy-McKinney for all the work that the two have been doing with the grants and the water plant.

“I think that with your … work sometimes we forget all about it and we [the Board] got a lot of credit,” stated Hutchins. “On behalf of the Board, we would just like to say thank you. Your hard work and your due diligence does not go unseen or unheard.”

(Re)Appointing an alternate

As part of his remarks, Snowden requested the reappointment of Jerome Parrish Martin to the Zoning Board of Appeals, highlighting Martin’s continued service and experience on the board. Snowden cited that Martin has been an “outstanding member of the ZBA.”

“[He] has the knowledge to lead the board in the event of an absent chairman,” Snowden noted. “We thank you for your dedication, Jerome.”

Following the board’s approval, Martin took the Oath of Office, administered by Village Clerk Gandy-McKinney, swearing to faithfully discharge the duties of a Zoning Board of Appeals member for a term of five years. Gandy-McKinney congratulated Martin following the oath, with Martin responding with a gracious expression of thanks.