Repairs at Cold Spring’s upper reservoir will be costly
By Michael Turton
Repairs to the upper reservoir dam off Foundry Pond Road will cost the Village of Cold Spring between $3.8 and $4.2 million, according to an engineering report presented to the Board of Trustees on Dec. 6.
The report, prepared by Tectonic Engineering and Surveying, outlined two approaches to repairing the aging dam.
One scenario, with a single spillway, would cost about $3.8 million but result in water levels in the reservoir being lowered by 1.2 feet, a significant reduction in capacity.
The second option, which Tectonic recommended, would use a combination of service and auxiliary spillways at an estimated cost of $4.2 million. The auxiliary spillway would only come into play during extreme storms.
The trustees took no action pending discussions with Cold Spring’s consulting engineer, Bart Clark, and Superintendent of Water and Wastewater Greg Phillips.
At the board’s Dec. 12 meeting, Mayor Dave Merandy said that residents who own property near the reservoirs are being contacted regarding easements required to access the dam with heavy equipment and cranes.
Permits also will be required from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Town of Philipstown and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
In other business …
- Merandy expressed condolences to the family of Deborah Phillips, who died on Dec. 10 at age 76. Deborah was married to former Cold Spring Mayor Anthony Phillips for 57 years, and her son Greg is the superintendent of water and wastewater.
- Officer-in-Charge Larry Burke reported that the Cold Spring Police Department received 72 calls for service in November, and officers issued 44 parking tickets and 14 moving violations. Burke said he has received a quote of $5,015 to purchase and install security cameras at the CSPD offices. He said a grant covering half of the cost has been approved through State Sen. Sue Serino’s office.
- Trustees appointed Lara Eldin and Sue Meyer to the Planning Board.
- Merandy reported that due to the continued impasse over the amount that the Village of Nelsonville pays for fire protection provided by the Cold Spring Fire Company, a public meeting will be held early in January to discuss the issue.
