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Glens Falls water and sewer superintendent outlines $14–20 million electrical upgrade, says engineering nearly complete
Summary
Bill Norton, Glens Falls City water and sewer superintendent, told the Common Council the city is 95% complete on electrical engineering for a plant-wide upgrade estimated at $14–$20 million and has secured $300,000 for new switchgear; staff discussed generators, regulators and nearby erosion tied to informal mountain-bike trails.
Bill Norton, Glens Falls City water and sewer superintendent, briefed the Common Council on a multi-part electrical upgrade for the municipal water and wastewater facility, saying the city has secured $300,000 to purchase new switchgear and is about 95% complete with the electrical engineering design.
The engineering work covers the plant’s entire electrical system and Norton said the total construction cost estimate currently sits between $14 million and $20 million, a figure that does not include about $1 million the city has set aside for the engineering design. “We’re about 95% done with the entire electrical engineering of this project,” Norton said.
Norton told the council the new switchgear is essential to provide coordinated redundancy across the facility and to allow multiple backup power options, including on-site generation. He said staff have discussed the project with the state utility regulator and that the equipment choices and configuration are intended to improve resiliency if one part of the system fails.
Council members and staff discussed financing options. Norton said the city has applied for multiple rounds of external funding over the past few years and may need to borrow to complete construction if grants do not cover the full cost; he said the council would decide whether to pursue borrowing once final cost figures are available. He identified the bond authority (referred to in the meeting as the “EFC”) as a potential source of low-interest financing.
Norton also described associated site work and environmental concerns. He reported ongoing issues with unauthorized mountain-bike trails and other informal uses near drainage and erosion-prone areas upstream of the plant. Those unsanctioned trails, he said, are contributing to erosion of drainage areas and the city plans to remove unauthorized features and restore drainage where needed. Norton said the city has engaged with neighboring Queensbury representatives and other stakeholders about the trail and drainage concerns.
No formal council action or vote on the water and sewer project was recorded in the meeting transcript; Norton’s presentation was an information update. The council did not adopt any resolution or appropriations for construction during this session.
Background: Norton said the electrical upgrade has been a multi-year effort with several grant applications and planning rounds. The city has set aside approximately $1 million for final engineering; the larger construction estimate remains under review and could change as the design is finalized.
