Village of Red Hook Mayor’s Report October 2024
SEWER PROJECT I:
The major outstanding item is the Single Audit. A draft of the Single Audit from UHY for year ending 5/31/22 is now expected at the end of November. There is one final MWBE report from Carver Construction to be filed with EFC.
SEWER EXPANSION – PHASE II:
The IUP listing has come out. We were not initially included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure funding. An appeal has been filed which we hope to be successful for the next round of funding. We are working toward doing an Income Survey that might also help get us higher on the list.
ABRAHAMS PARK TASK FORCE:
We have over 100 survey results. This month our task force will meet to review the results and set next steps.
The Cookingham Trails are now officially open. The new parking rules on Park Avenue seem to working reasonably well, though with cars parked on one side, it does narrow the road significantly. There has been a request to move back the “No Parking from Here to Corner” sign so that there would be parking allowed on only one side of the driveway entrance/exit for 31 Linden Ave – the house on the South corner of Park & Linden – with a driveway on Park Ave. I received a call from a resident who was disappointed that they could no longer park at the base of the Park. They felt it was easier and safer for passengers, especially children, to exit a car right into the Park. I am reviewing this with DPW Foreman Jake Smith.
UPSEU CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS:
Deputy Mayor Kjarval and I met with UPSEU and the Village reps for the Police contract on Oct. 29[th] . We reached a tentative agreement. A proposed MOA to follow. A meeting regarding the DPW Contract is scheduled for the week of 11/4.
WIIA – WATER PROJECTS:
SCADA Controls Upgrade – the new SCADA system is fully up and running. The alarm system is now functioning well. We fixed an issue with the phones – the phone number to the water treatment plant was the same as the number to the highway garage. We have now separated the phone lines. The chlorine analyzer has not yet arrived. System training is needed. A deduct change order for $26,622 has been approved and filed. For background, the SCADA system controls the water system, and this upgrade increases the efficiency of the system. Avanti Construction is the contractor. The original cost for this project was $416,700. With the deduct change order, the amount is $390,078.
Cherry & Graves Street Water Main Replacement – The connection of the new water lines to the system took place the week of Oct 21. The new mains are now online and servicing Cherry & Graves Street customers. The remaining work is paving Cherry & Graves Streets. Prepping the roads took place the week of Oct 27. Paving is scheduled for the week of Nov. 4. The contractor is Amity Construction. Substantial completion is contracted to be December 17, 2024. The cost for this project is $1,003,560. The contingency of $100,000 has not yet been fully utilized. There might be a small reduction in the final amount – we’ll know after paving is complete.
Water Tank Rehabilitation –The Water Tower is back in service. This project is now complete – except for a contracted annual inspection to take place next summer. The contractor is Worldwide Industries. The contract cost for this project is $373,500. The deduct change order for $13,100 has been approved, making the contract amount now $360,400.
OTHER WATER PROJECTS:
Lead line Inventory –We have submitted our Lead Line Inventory on time as required by NYS. This is a living document which we will continue to update as we get more information. The good news is that so far, we have not found any lead pipes in the Village. We are required to notify all customers for whom we do not have all information on their water line, including the homeowners service line. And if a portion is not identified, we must say there could be lead.
Valve Replacements – Linden & Park Aves.
The DPW started out to replace a leaking valve on Linden Ave near Park Ave. This valve only shut off less than 10 houses so it was determined best to not replace the valve and just continue the line. The valve also on Linden Ave, at Park Ave, had been leaking on and off for a long time. It began to leak more consistently so the crew replaced that valve. In doing so, they discovered that this valve had been leaking down into, probably creating, a large cavity. After replacing the valve, they dug up the hole and filled it in.
Fire Hydrants
The DPW, when they flush the hydrants, have taken measurements recording the flow. Delaware Engineering has taken those measurements and rated them so we can have an accurate map of the hydrant flows. The Red Hook Fire Company already has all this information. Based on the makeup of our water system, not all of our fire hydrants have strong enough flow to use in a fire. We will discuss how best to identify the hydrants in the future.
ARCHTOP FIBER UPDATE
Archtop Fiber has been working in various neighborhoods throughout the Village over the past several weeks. All residents should be receiving notification from Archtop prior to their working in your neighborhood. If anyone has any questions or concerns, you can call Village Hall and we can connect you with Archtop. They are in regular communication with our DPW Foreman to coordinate their work.
DUTCHESS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL (DCTC):
A virtual meeting was held on Oct. 30. The meeting began with a presentation from consultants Cambridge Systematics, who are working on a comprehensive traffic safety study that will become part of the County’s Safety Action Plan. They reviewed grant awards including an FTA Section 5310 Program Award to Devereux Foundation for replacement buses. They also reviewed upcoming funding opportunities.
AARP is doing some walk audits and would welcome volunteers. Nov. 18 at 10am in Poughkeepsie. If interested let me know and I can put you in touch. The next meeting is Nov. 26[th] at 10am.
OTHER:
COOKINGHAM FARM TRAILS RIBBON CUTTING – October 7
I attended this celebration at the connection of the Cookingham Farm Trails to the Richard M Abrahams Memorial Park. The trails are a wonderful addition to the trails in our area.
RHCSD SOLAR ARRAY RIBBON CUTTING – October 16
I attended the celebration of the construction completion of the solar array on the roof of the Mill St. Elementary school.
PUMPKINS IN THE PARK – October 19
This event got some beautiful weather this year! With tables stationed all along the path and the new Farm Trails to lure people further, it was a great opportunity to discover more of Abrahams Park and create some beautiful pumpkins!
OFRENDA IN VILLAGE HALL LOBBY
Once again, the Red Hook Ofrenda Project has installed an ofrenda in the lobby of Village Hall. It will be up through early November. An ofrenda is the offering made during the annual and traditionally Mexican Day of the Dead celebration to commemorate the souls of loved ones.
VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE – October 26
On a beautiful, but windy day, we had about 200 people parade through the Village with the new electric police car & Lt. Hildenbrand flashing the new car lights to lead the way. Thank you to the Events Committee, and especially Deputy Mayor Melkorka Kjarval and her family, the first gentleman, and Lara Hart for making this another successful event. And thank you to Village businesses who kept the celebration going with trick or treating after the parade.
ROTARY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR – TODD BARIGHT – October 26
On behalf of the Village, I presented Todd Baright with a proclamation congratulating him on his Citizen of the Year award and to thank him for all he does for the Village.
VFW POST 7765 TRUNK OR TREAT – October 27
I checked out the decorated trucks – cars and motorcycles! – at the VFW. I left (most of) the candy for the kids. 😊
Respectfully submitted,
Mayor Karen Smythe