Ravena board approves transfers as water-plant work triggers temporary water-use limits

Ravena Village Board members on Sept. 2 approved transfers to water and sewer accounts and reiterated a call for conservation as reconstruction at the village’s water treatment basin reduces capacity and will require a temporary shutdown.

The board voted to transfer $8,614.23 from general-fund checking to the water fund to cover costs tied to the Central Avenue Warner project, and separately approved transfers of $97,334.56 to the water account and $132,318.31 to the sewer account. The board recorded the transfers and instructed that unpaid water and sewer rents will be re-levied onto village property tax for 2025–26.

The transfers were presented during the Department of Public Works report, which also described recent water-system work: a service-line replacement at the VFW post on Whitbeck Street, repair of a sizable water-main break at 30 Main Street, completed water-main work on Pulver, Dempster, Railroad and Central, and tying a drain into a culvert on South Clement Avenue. The DPW speaker said reconstruction is under way at the village’s sedimentation basin and that the north wall is complete and large concrete supports have been removed to allow rebuilding.

"We are better than halfway there, but we still are under water restrictions because the plant is at about half capacity," the DPW speaker said. The speaker added that the plant will need to be completely shut down while crews replace the main line feeding the plant and urged residents to conserve: "If you got a hand water, just do it by hand in the early in the morning, 6 to 9, 6 to 9 at night. No sprinklers. Just be conscious of what you're doing, please." The board did not set additional formal penalties in the meeting record; the statement was a request to residents.

Board members moved and seconded the transfers and other routine motions by voice vote. The transcript records affirmative responses after each motion; no roll-call tallies were given in the public record.

Why it matters: the basin reconstruction reduces the plant’s output and will require a brief full shutdown to replace a primary feed line. The board’s transfers shift funds to support water and sewer operations and to re-levy unpaid rents, decisions that affect billing and the village’s operating cash during the construction period.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to accept workshop minutes of Aug. 26, 2025 — motion made and seconded; outcome recorded as approved by voice vote (transcript records affirmative responses).

- Motion to accept regular minutes of Aug. 19, 2025 — motion made and seconded; outcome recorded as approved by voice vote.

- Transfer of $8,614.23 from general-fund checking to water-fund checking for Central Ave Warner project (increase to specified line items) — motioned and seconded; outcome recorded as approved by voice vote.

- Transfers from general fund to water ($97,334.56) and sewer ($132,318.31) — motioned and seconded; transcript notes approval and that unpaid water/sewer rents will be re-levied on 2025–26 property tax.

- Motion to pay audited bills (abstract 4-1-25, vouchers 4-1 through 4-27) in the amount of $68,242.43 — motioned and seconded; outcome recorded as approved by voice vote.

What the board did not do: the board did not adopt an enforcement ordinance on water use during the meeting, nor did it set a specific date for the plant shutdown beyond the DPW advisory that residents should prepare for a complete shutdown while the main-line replacement occurs.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the DPW report and financial portion of the meeting; direct quotes are taken from the transcript.