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Red Hook Intermunicipal Sewer Project Background

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Red Hook Intermunicipal Sewer Project

Background February 2026 Prepared by Trustee Frances Uku, Village of Red Hook

The Project

The Village of Red Hook and Town of Red Hook are undertaking a combined $26 million sewer project. The Village is expanding its WWTP from 75,000 to 300,000 GPD, extending its collection system to ~170 additional properties ($19.5M combined), and dedicating 50,000 GPD of capacity to the Town. The Town is building a new collection system connecting ~51 properties to the Village plant ($6.6M).

The Agreement

In 2024, the Town and Village executed an Intermunicipal Agreement that defines this as a single project in which the Village is the central party: the Village owns and operates the treatment facility, controls the project budget, authorizes disbursements, employs the operator, and the Village Engineer reviews and approves Town construction plans. Section 8.d requires the Town and Village to “work cooperatively” on grant applications.

How It Was Implemented

Each municipality engaged its own engineering firm and prepared separate grant applications:

ScopeMunicipalityEngineerEFC ApplicationsCost
Town collection systemTown of Red HookTighe & BondIMG$6.6M
WWTP expansion + Village
collection system extensionVillage of Red HookDelaware EngineeringWIIA$19.5M

Funding Status

Application TitleProgramAmountResult
Town/Village Sewer Treatment FacilityExpansionIMG(EFC)$2.56MAwarded (Dec 2025)
WWTP Upgrades — Phase IIWIIA(EFC)upto $5MDenied (Dec 2025)
Red Hook (V) WWTP Upgrades & STEP Sewer System
— Phase IIWQIP (DEC)$10MDenied(Jan 2026)
Village WWTP ExpansionEmpire State Dev.$2MAwarded
Village WWTP ExpansionDutchess County$500KAwarded

The Challenge

The Town’s collection system and the Village’s WWTP expansion are interdependent — the Town’s infrastructure connects to the Village plant. The Town’s IMG was awarded in the same round that the Village’s WIIA was denied.

EFC Funding

Current EFC grants Combined project at IMG rate (40%) Town IMG: $2.56M · Village WIIA: $0 Up to $10.4M before adjusting for grants already awarded Total EFC funding: $2.56M on a $26M project

Precedent: Millerton / North East

In December 2024, EFC awarded a $5.08M IMG to the Village of Millerton and Town of North East for a combined wastewater project. Same county (Dutchess). Same structure: Village-owned WWTP, Town connecting via IMA. The two municipalities engaged a single engineer (Tighe & Bond) and filed a single combined application — one lead municipality, one project.

Questions for Discussion

  1. What options are available to the Town and Village in future grant cycles?