## **Highway Department Report for May 2026**
by Trustee Uku · June 8, 2026 · AI assistance from Claude
## **Materials Management**
Please refer to the attached Resource Recovery Data Report for full details. Contaminated recycling charges totaled $24.20 in May, up from $14.52 in April and $6.28 in March: still moving in the other direction than we’d like, so let’s all spread the word. The bulk of May’s contamination came from a single pickup on 5/26 (0.09 tons, $14.51), FYI. _Total Materials Management expenses for May were $1,751.27._
## **Garbage Tag Sales**
May garbage tag sales totaled approximately $3,874 across Village Hall, the Red Hook Public Library, and Taste Budds. The price increase for garbage tags took effect June 1. _Total May garbage revenue, including the Tivoli contract, was $6,604._
## **Scrap Metal Program**
|Revenue since the last report (~5/9/26)|$460.70|
|---|---|
|Total revenue this Fiscal Year (Jun 2025 – May 2026) to date|$5,906.75|
|Since the program’s inception in Sep 2007, donations have yielded a total of|$61,423.99|
_Proceeds go towards the purchase of tools and equipment for the Highway Department. Residents and businesses interested in donating metal may contact the Village Clerk’s office to schedule a pickup. Give the Village a call when you have scrap metal you need gone!_
## **Trash & Recycling**
Trash and recycling must be out before 5 AM on Monday mornings. Cardboard bundles should be bound together with string or tape. Paper recycling should be placed loose within a lidded tub or bin. Recycling pickup alternates between Yellow (paper & cardboard) and Blue (metal, plastic & glass).
Bulk waste disposal (mattresses, large furniture, etc.) is available to Village residents and businesses at a very affordable rate.
Please contact the Clerk to purchase tags for any Village disposal services: (845) 758-1081 · info@redhookvillage.gov · or in person M–F, 11 AM – 4 PM.
## **Food Waste Dropoff**
Residents are welcome to join the Village’s Food Waste Collection Program, made possible in part by a composting grant from Dutchess County. To sign up, contact the Clerk or visit redhookvillage.gov/compost.
## **Brush / Yard Waste Pickup**
Brush pickup is back (yay!) and continues monthly through October, during the first full week of each month. Please place piles neatly curbside for collection, not in the road.
_**Please refer regularly to the 2026 Waste Collection Guide, Dual Stream Recycling Guide, and Pickup Calendar. Credit for designing these belongs to Deputy Mayor Kjarval. I couldn’t survive without mine.**_
## **Street Light Out? Potholes?**
If you notice a street light out in the Village, you may notify Central Hudson directly at cenhud.com/en/ outages — select “Report a Street Light” and fill out their online form.
You can notify the Village of potholes on Village roads by calling the Village Clerk’s office or filling out the “Report a Concern” form at redhookvillage.org/concern. State roads in the Village (Broadway and Market) should be reported to the NYS DOT directly at 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653). Linden Avenue is a Dutchess County road; the Clerk can help route those reports.
## **Street Sweeping**
Street sweeping took place at the end of May. Notice was posted on the Village website and sent via email and text alerts on May 22. Even so, some residents reported not knowing the timing, or that it was happening at all. The lesson: our current communication channels aren’t reaching everyone. Going forward, we should publicly announce street sweeping in the May monthly meeting, or earlier if the Highway Foreman advises.
## **Foreman Appreciation** _(“Giving Jake His Flowers”)_
Jake and the Highway crew have been busy, as always. Here’s a cool action photo of recent repairs at the water treatment plant.
**==> picture [288 x 217] intentionally omitted <==**
Just ask around, we are the envy of all neighboring villages and towns. 😎
|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**|**VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOURCE RECOVERY DATA/REPORT(Data extraction assisted by Claude AI)**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**2024/2025**|**June***|**July**|**August**|**September**|**October**|**November**|**December**|**January**|**February**|**March**|**April**|**May**|**Average**|**YTD**||
|**TONS**||||||||||||||||
|**Commingled**|**0.82**|**1.2**|**0.9**|**0.84**|**0.75**|**1.01**|**1.66**|**1.06**|**1.11**|**0.85**|**0.93**|**0.9**|**1.00**|**12.03**||
|**Cardboard**|**0.47**|**0.46**|**0.43**|**0.57**|**0.37**|**0.41**|**0.42**|**0.51**|**0.2**|**0.73**|**0.33**|**0.51**|**0.45**|**5.41**||
|**Paper**|**0.83**|**0.61**|**0.65**|**1**|**0.79**|**0.83**|**0.75**|**0.84**|**0.58**|**1.19**|**0.75**|**0.71**|**0.79**|**9.53**||
|**Total Recycling**|**2.12**|**2.27**|**1.98**|**2.41**|**1.91**|**2.25**|**2.83**|**2.41**|**1.89**|**2.77**|**2.01**|**2.12**|**2.25**|**26.97**||
|**Garbage Dumpster**|**3.3**|**3.3**|**3.3**|**3.3**|**3.3**|**3.3**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**8.18**|**98.19**|**6yd dumpster start 12/24**|
|**Garbage - UCRRA**|**8.13**|**4.37**|**5.62**|**7.03**|**1.72**|**3**|**2.38**|**3.21**|**0**|**5.33**|**0.53**|**7.07**||||
|**REVENUE**||||||||||||||||
|**Tags Sold**|**$2,820.00**|**$2,927.00 **|**$ 2,480.00**|<br>**$2,696.00**|**$3,592.00**|**$2,748.00**|**$2,517.00**|**$3,507.00**|**$1,545.00**|**$2,979.00**|**$2,490.00**|**$2,078.00**|**$2,698.25**|**$32,379.00**||
|||||||||||||||||
|**COSTS**||||||||||||||||
|**Garbage @ $135/ton**|**$939.95**|**$502.55**|**$646.30**|**$808.45**|**$197.80**|**$355.00**|**$288.70**|**$433.35**|**$0.00**|**$719.55**|**$81.55**|**$964.45**|**$494.80**|**$5,937.65**||
|**Fuel Surcharge**|**$65.85**|**$33.92**|**$43.63**|**$50.53**|**$11.86**|**$21.30**|**$17.33**|**$24.92**|**$0.00**|**$44.97**|**$5.10**|**$57.87**|**$31.44**|**$377.28**||
|**Contaminated Recycling**|**$6.10**|**$2.44**|**$0.00**|**$2.43**|**$4.84**|**$0.00**|**$0.00**|**$0.00**|**$0.00**|**$0.00**|**$0.00**|**$0.00**|**$1.32**|**$15.81**||
|**Welsh/Royal Dumpster**|**$246.63**|**$246.63**|**$246.63**|**$246.63**|**$246.63**|**$246.63**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$232.57**|**$2,790.84**||
|**TOTAL COSTS**|**$1,258.53**|**$785.54**|**$936.56**|**$1,108.04**|**$461.13**|**$622.93**|**$524.54**|**$676.78**|**$218.51**|**$983.03**|**$305.16**|**$1,240.83**|**$760.13**|**$9,121.58**||
|||||||||||||||||
|**TOTAL REVENUE**|**$2,820.00**|**$2,927.00**|**$2,480.00**|**$2,696.00**|**$3,592.00**|**$2,748.00**|**$2,517.00**|**$3,507.00**|**$1,545.00**|**$2,979.00**|**$2,490.00**|**$2,078.00**|**$2,698.25**|**$32,379.00**||
|**2025/2026**|**June***|**July**|**August**|**September**|**October**|**November**|**December**|**January**|**February**|**March**|**April**|**May**|**Average**|**YTD**||
|**TONS**||||||||||||||||
|**Commingled**|**1.29**|**0.78**|**0.85**|**0.83**|**1.02**|**1.68**|**2.3**|**1.43**|**1.5**|**2.03**|**1.49**|**1.35**|**1.38**|**16.55**||
|**Cardboard**|**0.65**|**0.44**|**0.52**|**0.64**|**0.52**|**0.90**|**0.91**|**0.76**|**0.57**|**0.82**|**0.77**|**0.60**|**0.68**|**8.10**||
|**Paper**|**0.68**|**0.65**|**0.62**|**1.08**|**0.77**|**1.17**|**1.63**|**1.18**|**1.11**|**1.48**|**1.23**|**1.08**|**1.06**|**12.68**||
|**Total Recycling**|**2.62**|**1.87**|**1.99**|**2.55**|**2.31**|**3.75**|**4.84**|**3.37**|**3.18**|**4.33**|**3.49**|**3.03**|**3.11**|**37.33**||
|**Garbage - Dumpster**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**5**|**14.54**|**174.43**||
|**Garbage - UCRRA**|**5.83**|**9.89**|**6.62**|**9.98**|**13.39**|**9.19**|**11.69**|**8.99**|**8.91**|**11.87**|**9.03**|**9.04**||||
|**Garbage - Total**|**10.83**|**14.89**|**11.62**|**14.98**|**18.39**|**14.19**|**16.69**|**13.99**|**13.91**|**16.87**|**14.03**|**14.04**||||
|**REVENUE**||||||||||||||||
|**Tags Sold**|**$2,383.00**|**$2,848.00 **|**$ 2,289.00**|<br>**$2,985.00**|**$3,318.00**|**$1,813.00**|**$2,975.00**|**$3,093.00**|**$1,742.00**|**$2,764.00**|**$2,275.00**|**$3,874.00**|**$2,696.58**|**$32,359.00**||
|**Tivoli Service@ $682.50/wk**||||||**$2,730.00**|**$2,730.00**|**$2,730.00**|**$2,730.00**|**$2,730.00**|**$2,730.00**|**$2,730.00**||**$19,110.00**||
|||||||||||||||||
|**COSTS**||||||||||||||||
|**Garbage @ $135/ton**|**$807.05**|**$1,402.75**|**$893.70**|**$1,357.30**|**$1,807.65**|**$1,250.65**|**$1,578.15**|**$1,432.78**|**$1,336.50**|**$1,820.50**|**$1,354.50**|**$1,356.00**|**$1,366.46**|**$16,397.53**||
|**Fuel Surcharge**|**$48.54**|**$87.81**|**$55.86**|**$84.83**|**$112.98**|**$78.18**|**$102.58**|**$84.28**|**$83.53**|**$122.89**|**$152.38**|**$152.56**|**$97.20**|**$1,166.42**||
|**Garbage - Total**|**$855.59**|**$1,490.56**|**$949.56**|**$1,442.13**|**$1,920.63**|**$1,328.83**|**$1,680.73**|**$1,517.06**|**$1,420.03**|**$1,943.39**|**$1,506.88**|**$1,508.56**||||
|**Contaminated Recycling**|**$2.70**|**$2.70**|**$7.06**|**$0.00**|**$1.41**|**$2.83**|**$0.00**|**$23.44**|**$3.13**|**$6.28**|**$14.52**|**$24.20**|**$7.36**|**$88.27**||
|**Welsh/Royal Dumpster**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$218.51**|**$2,622.12**||
|**TOTAL COSTS**|**$1,076.80**|**$1,711.77**|**$1,175.13**|**$1,660.64**|**$2,140.55**|**$1,550.17**|**$1,899.24**|**$1,759.01**|**$1,641.67**|**$2,168.18**|**$1,739.91**|**$1,751.27**|**$1,689.53**|**$20,274.34**||
|||||||||||||||||
|**TOTAL REVENUE**|**$2,383.00**|**$2,848.00**|**$2,289.00**|**$2,985.00**|**$3,318.00**|**$4,543.00**|**$5,705.00**|**$5,823.00**|**$4,472.00**|**$5,494.00**|**$5,005.00**|**$6,604.00**|**$4,289.08**|**$51,469.00**||
|**inc. Tivoligarbage (started 6/24/25)**||||||||||||||||
## **Red Hook Public Library Report for May 2026**
by Trustee Uku, Liaison · June 8, 2026 · AI assistance from Claude
The Library Board of Trustees met on May 21, with Martha Tepepa presiding in the absence of President Anna Greig.
The Library ran 55 programs in April with 799 attendees, including me and my tiny human sidekick. Teen programming in particular grew, as did foot traffic.
One patron shared that her son had never finished a book before attending the Library’s “Bad Guys” book party. He won Book 1 in an escape room, finished it that evening, and is now on Book 12. A new resident stopped by the day after moving in to share that she and her wife chose Red Hook because of the Library.
_Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library officially launched in Red Hook on May 22._ As previously reported, the program mails free books monthly to children from birth through age five, thanks to a collaboration between the RHPL, Tivoli Library, the Town, and United Way. Bravo, y’all!
**==> picture [288 x 260] intentionally omitted <==**
The Library conducted an ADA audit and found most of the building meets standards. The remaining work (adding railings along the ramp from the parking lot) is estimated at $100K–$150K. Grant opportunities are being explored. The automated rear door has shipped.
Programs coming up include a Summer Reading Treasure Hunt sponsored by the RH Chamber of Commerce, a babysitting class with CPR training and certification, and an _LGBTQ+ Oral Histories Training_ for teens, in collaboration with Historic Red Hook.
_Reminder: The Library will be recruiting 2 new Board members this summer. Might 1 be you?_
Finally, the Library’s finances remain on track. The share of the monthly mortgage payment applied to principal now exceeds the share applied to interest. The end of the mortgage is nigh.
Next Library Board of Trustees meeting: **Thursday, June 18 at 6:00 PM** on the uppermost floor.
## **Village Green Committee Report for May 2026**
by Trustee Uku · June 8, 2026 · AI assistance from Claude
The VGC meets quarterly, and did not formally meet in May. Committee work has continued by email and through individual member contributions, with two major items in motion: the postcard run and a potential intermunicipal grant pursuit with the Town.
## **Postcards are A-Comin’**
Following Board approval of both design and spend, the 200-unit VGC postcard order was secured through the Dutchess County Print Shop. Delivery is expected any day now. Thank you to Karen, Melkorka, and Jen for pointing me toward the most cost effective printing option for the Village.
## **DEC Urban Forestry Grant**
As discussed in our May 26 Board workshop, the VGC is exploring the possibility of a joint application with the Town Tree Commission for a DEC Urban Forestry grant. _There is no match required, and the minimum award is $50,000._ The funding could support a comprehensive tree inventory and management plan covering both Village and Town — updating the Village’s existing 2007 inventory, integrating it with the Town’s work, and potentially supporting an interactive map for residents.
I attended the DEC informational webinar on June 2. During the Q&A portion, I asked about our specific case in Red Hook. DEC indicated that an intermunicipal application, _“covering both Village and Town at a ‘landscape level’, could potentially score very well, particularly when tied to a broader work plan and shared objectives.”_ Thrilling news.
Credit to VGC member Brenda Cagle for proposing the joint approach, and Town Tree Commission Chair Cathy Michael for being open to partnering. I have committed to serving as lead grant writer, should the committee(s) elect to proceed with an application. Tree people are the best people.
## **Coming Up**
As soon as the postcards arrive later this month, the committee will be out canvassing for tree locations for Fall Planting Day. You might meet them at your door. Let them plant you a tree! Come try out a meeting! You won’t find a nicer bunch of neighbors.
Next Village Green Committee meeting: **Thursday, July 16 at 6:00 PM** at Village Hall.