(Photo by Frank Hayes)
The town board has approved a 40-year agreement between Saugerties and the New York State Thruway Authority to provide water to the Malden service area. According to town supervisor Greg Helsmoortel, the deal should save the customers in the Malden Water District money on their bills. He has not yet said how much money will be saved.
The agreement calls for the authority to pay the town $92,000 up front for the design and construction of about 3000 feet of water line along Malden Turnpike to the service area and for the installation of a water meter. The remainder of the cost for the work will be paid when the job is completed and has been accepted by the Thruway.
The deal calls for the town to be paid a total of $750,000 for the work. The amount could increase up to a million dollars with change-work orders for unforeseen costs (such as more rock to dig through).
The town has agreed to provide between 6000 and 18,000 gallons of water a day to the service area.
Work will begin in the spring.