Village of Red Hook Mayor’s Report June 2024
LIBRARY REPORT:
The Red Hook Public Library (RHPL) held their regular board meeting on Thursday, June 20th. I was not able to attend as we had moved our Village Workshop meeting to the same date.
Board documents can be accessed on the Library Website: www.redhooklibrary.org/board-of-trustees/. The link to the board packet is imbedded in the text toward the bottom of the page.
I will have a full report at our August meeting. The next Library Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 18, 2024, at 6:30pm. Committee meeting schedule is on the library calendar on the website.
INSURANCE:
NYMIR Insurance June 1 renewal - Cyber insurance was $1860.10 last year and came in at $1372 this year. Budget adjustments to follow.
SEWER PROJECT:
The USDA-RD final disbursement request to close out the project has been put together. The final budget modification is on our agenda for your approval.
SEWER EXPANSION – PHASE II:
Our working group met June 7 & 21st to review both the ongoing operations and the Phase II project.
The Sewer Phase II project was submitted for listing on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Intended Use Plan (IUP) on June 14 (deadline June 15, 2024). As a reminder, the project as currently designed includes the addition of approximately 170 properties in the Village, adding 175,000 gallons per day (gpd) capacity for use by the Village and an additional 50,000 gpd capacity dedicated to the Town Sewer District #1 as requested by the Town. The proposed map includes the three potential development projects – Cookingham East, the Ross property & Anderson Commons – as well as expanding service to the south of the WWTP along Rt. 9, to the West to include the Middle & High schools, to the East to include the former Red Hook Electric and to the Southeast to include the Light Industrial District and a good portion of the residential district. The estimated probable cost of the alternative including the Town Sewer District capacity is $19.7MM.
Once our project is listed on the IUP, any additions, deductions, or cost increases will not change the grant amount. We can always make the expanded area smaller, so it is advantageous to apply for the larger project being considered and reduce it later if that makes sense.
The Town successfully established a sewer district which is required for the Village to provide them with sewer services.
We are preparing to submit a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) grant application for the Sewer Phase II project for additional opportunities for grant funding. This grant application is due July 31. A resolution to authorize submission is included on the agenda.
COOKINGHAM EAST/RED HOOK GATEWAY:
Trustee Appenzeller and I met on Friday, June 21, with our planning consultant Bonnie Franson of NPV, RUPCO, and Bob Ross to review the planning draft and to have a site visit of the Ross property. Next steps are coordinating work with our Land Use Attorney Victoria Polidoro.
ABRAHAMS PARK TASK FORCE:
The survey for Abrahams Park is ready to go. I have flyers – thanks to Deputy Mayor Kjarval – ready to distribute. The survey is on the Village website. We hope to share the information/flyer as widely as possible so we can get as much input as we can. The survey has a Spanish version included.
UPSEU CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS:
The Deputy Mayor and I met with both the Police and the Highway with their union representatives the first week in July with our responses. Further meetings will take place in the coming weeks.
WIIA – WATER PROJECTS:
SCADA Controls Upgrade – this project is underway and expected to be completed by the end of July. The SCADA system controls the water system, and this upgrade will increase the efficiency of the system. Avanti Construction is the contractor. The cost for this project is $416,700.
Cherry & Graves Street Water Main Replacement – This project began in mid-May. The contractor is Amity Construction. The new water main was installed on Cherry Street and part of Graves Street before Amity stopped work for July and August. Amity is due back September 3[rd] to complete the project – which includes completing the new water main on Graves Street, doing all new service lines to residences served by these water mains, then cleaning up and paving Cherry & Graves Streets. Substantial completion is contracted to be December 17, 2024. The cost for this project is $1,003,560.
Water Tank Rehabilitation – Onsite work for this project began last week. The water tank was drained on Wed 7/10. A temporary bladder tank is in operation to maintain water pressure in the system. Equipment was dropped off at the Tower on Thurs 7/11. Workers are expected on site to begin their work the week of 7/15. The contractor is Worldwide Industries. The cost for this project is $373,500. Completion is expected to be before the end of 2024.
DUTCHESS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL (DCTC):
I am one of two rural representatives for the Dutchess County Supervisors and Mayors Association on the DCTC. There was a virtual Planning Committee meeting on June 26 which I attended. They gave an update on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects and various funding opportunities. They also shared their work on a Vulnerability Assessment for the County – called the Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan (TRIP). There is a final draft available on their website. Their annual traffic count study will be completed soon. The Village of Red Hook was included in that study, and we will add that information to the Traffic Study being done by Creighton-Manning for the 25mph speed limit review. The DCTC Committee meetings are open to the public. Minutes and future dates are all available on their website: (https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Transportation-Council/Transportation-Council.htm)
OTHER:
I attended and volunteered at the Senior Picnic run by the County Office for the Aging for the residents of Milan, Red Hook, Rhinebeck & Tivoli on Wednesday, June 12 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. It was wonderful to see many Red Hook seniors in attendance!
Historic Red Hook included a raffle item of “Breakfast with the Mayor at Locavore” at their Then & Now event. The winner was Eric Riback, Board President of PANDA TV. We had a very enjoyable and delicious breakfast on June 19. Among many topics, we discussed PANDA’s future plans and other ways we might further work together.
Congratulations to BeckHook Pride and especially Trustee Kym Bradley-Rickard on a wonderful, well attended Pride parade and celebration on Saturday, June 22[nd] . While it was a very hot day, it was better than the predicted thunderstorms! Kudos to the whole team.
The same day as the Pride Parade, I had the joy and privilege of officiating my third wedding ceremony since becoming Mayor. Certainly, one of the greater joys of holding the office of Village Mayor.
The Red Hook School Foundation Ball was at the Speigeltent on June 21[st] . This year’s theme was a Masquerade. Unfortunately, my mask did not fool anyone…
At the invitation of Fire Chief Marc Hildenbrand, I had the privilege of attending the Tivoli Fire Company’s Annual Dinner at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center on Saturday, June 22[nd] .
The Girl Scouts has a program that includes giving Girl Scout cookies to veterans. I was lucky enough to receive several cases of cookies which I happily delivered to the Red Hook VFW Post 7765 on June 28[th] .
Respectfully submitted,
Mayor Karen Smythe