ARCC Makes Pitch to Glens Falls Water and Sewer Board

Glens Falls City Engineer, Steve Gurzler, has attended each of the three regional water and sewer summits hosted by the ARCC to encourage a dialogue between communities in Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties. At two of these meetings, he has publicly commented that other than the Chamber speaking out in support of a regional solution that he hasn't heard much support from elected officials. Today, the ARCC attended the Glens Falls Water and Sewer Board meeting at the request of member Noel Deihl to ask where the water and sewer board stands on this effort and to address whether or not there is any political support for a regional solution.

Acting Mayor Jack Diamond reiterated the comments he's made at these forums: "The City has excess capacity to provide water and sewer treatment that it is willing to share with other surrounding municipalities." He noted that he's had a chance at these summits to discuss with the elected officials from these communities whether or not they're interested in talking about additional intermunicipal contracts as a means to create a partnership. Board member John Morphis noted that there is not enough information about how an authority might work or be structured to comment one way or the other but that the Board has always favored "joint ventures" achievable via these intermunicipal agreements. Board member George Nerf indicated that they are interested in exploring these concepts and that this represents political support for a continued dialogue.

The ARCC also asked the Board questions about the short and long term capital costs the City is likely to face with its aging water and sewer infrastructure. We also questioned whether or not the Board is evaluating the impact of these needed improvements on rates. The good news is that the Board has commissioned a rate analysis that will at least explore current rates and how they might be impacted in the short term by the known capital costs the City is facing. The bad news is that Steve Gurzler indicated that a great deal more additional analysis and research needs to be completed to fully evaluate all of the capital costs the City may face and that such an effort might take two years to complete.