Ashland wastewater grant approved by CWC Board

MARGARETVILE, June 27, 2008 - A block grant of $7.7 million to develop a community wastewater management system for the Greene County hamlet of Ashland was approved by the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) Board of Directors June 24.

Lamont Engineers of Cobleskill was authorized to conduct the pre-construction phase of the project, involving final design of a small diameter gravity sewer with a sand filter wastewater treatment plant. Each property in the yet-to-be-formed septic district will have its own septic tank where solids will be collected. Liquid effluent will then be piped to the plant, the location of which has not yet been determined.

Lamont will also map the sewer district and compile a sewer use law for approval by the Ashland Town Board, write bid documents, and develop operation and maintenance plans and contracts.

In other business, two Delaware County projects were approved for funding under the Stream Corridor Protection Program to mitigate or correct conditions that present an imminent and substantial danger to people or property in populated areas. A $14,160 grant will help repair and restore part of the Steele Brook streambank near the Delhi Town Hall. A $100,000 award will stabilize and prevent further erosion of Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride property along the Bushkill in Arkville.

A Stormwater Retrofit Grant was also approved for the Village of Delhi. It will provide $150,000 to remove sump pumps and area drains that are discharging stormwater into sewer lines, and to install laterals to carry this water to a separate collection system. These measures to correct inflow and infiltration (I&I) will reduce flows to the municipal wastewater treatment plant and avoid discharge of untreated wastewater from the plant directly to the West Branch of the Delaware River during periods of heavy rain or snowmelt.

The CWC Board of Directors also approved two low-interest business loans June 24.

Carrier Enterprises (Lina and Lubov Lerentracht) will receive a $300,000 loan to complete renovations to the former Liberty Hospital which has been transformed into a 135-bed adult living center, medical offices and a day care center.

Donald and Marcella Hasenflue will utilize a $155,000 REDI Loan to help purchase property at 4162 Route 209, Stone Ridge. The couple will open Cherries on Top Luncheonette and Ice Cream Bar in the commercial space currently occupied by TJ Scoops.

The CWC is a non-profit, local development corporation responsible for several environmental protection, economic development and education programs in the New York City Watershed West of the Hudson River. For more information, go to www.cwconline.org, or call toll-free 877-928-7433.