The Village of Red Hook Board of Trustees on Tuesday voted to authorize an application for state funding to help pay for Phase 2 of the village sewer expansion.

Resolution 34 instructs village officials to apply to the New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) for grant funding and authorizes the mayor to sign any resulting agreements with the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC). The trustees recorded the resolution as adopted by voice vote.

The resolution, as included in the meeting packet, states the village estimates the Phase 2 project cost at $19,502,800 and that the work would increase wastewater treatment capacity and provide sewer service to 170 additional properties through an expanded collection system. The packet also describes the application materials and an updated project financing plan.

Trustees and staff described the funding picture during the meeting. The WIIA program cited in the packet can, the materials state, fund up to either $25 million or up to 50% of net eligible project costs. Village staff said an application to EFC is one of several funding steps: the village has already applied earlier this year for other grants (a $2,000,000 award was referenced in materials), may pursue Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan financing for part of the remainder, and previously approved a bond authorization for roughly $20,000,000.

Officials also told the board that state permitting is under way. Village staff said they had filed a joint wetlands permit application with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers because the wastewater treatment plant discharge involves jurisdictional wetland areas. An amended SPDES (State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit will be part of the state review before any change in discharge is authorized, staff said in the packet and in remarks before the vote.

At the meeting, trustees asked about total cost, financing scenarios and how the village would pay the local share. Board members were told that the final net cost to village residents will depend on which combination of grants and loans the village secures. The village also said it expects capital costs to be recovered through system connection or capital fees assessed on properties that connect, rather than a general property tax levy.

The board approved Resolution 34 by voice vote. The packet notes that the application for WIIA funding was due in mid-September.

Why this matters: the Phase 2 project would expand sewer service and increase wastewater treatment capacity in the village and nearby areas. The scale of the work and the planned mix of grants and loans make the financing and permit approvals key next steps before construction could begin.

Details from the record
- Estimated project cost in the resolution text: $19,502,800.
- Number of additional properties to be served: 170 (resolution language).
- Funding tools discussed: WIIA grant (may fund up to 50% / up to $25 million), prior $2,000,000 grant referenced, potential CWSRF loan financing for a portion of the remainder, and an existing bond authorization of roughly $20,000,000 in village records.
- Regulatory steps described: joint wetlands permit application to DEC and Army Corps of Engineers; amended SPDES permit will define discharge limits.

The board chair said there will be additional public information sessions and permitting steps as the project moves forward.