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Red Hook Water Board to seek bids for storage-tank work after Bard offers $200,000
Summary
At its March 4 meeting the Town of Red Hook Water Board voted to issue an RFP to get firm cost estimates for a storage-tank project after Bard College offered $200,000 of a $400,000 request; the board also discussed rates, lead-line testing, valve work at Aspinwall Bridge and a dirty-water complaint on Linden Avenue.
The Town of Red Hook Water Board voted March 4 to issue a request for proposals to obtain firm cost estimates for rehabilitating or replacing its storage tank after Bard College offered $200,000 toward a contribution the board had sought at $400,000, according to the meeting minutes.
The decision to pursue an RFP followed discussion of whether to rehabilitate the existing tank or replace it. Minutes record that Jerry Gilnak said the Water and Wastewater Authority is leaning toward replacement “rather than to ‘Rehab and Repaint,’” and board member Stan Cary—described in the minutes as having many years of water-industry experience—said he is not in favor of glass-lined tanks.
The board also discussed the financing implications of the project. Michael Roomberg was assigned to gather national rate-comparison numbers so the board can explain any future rate increase in the customer newsletter; the minutes state the board needs rates that address ongoing infrastructure needs, including the tank, wells and watermains, and that a rate sufficient to cover loan repayment will be required if the storage-tank upgrade proceeds.
On lead-service-line inventory, Stan Cary reported that some systems use customer-collected water sampling instead of physical inspection: customers are given sample bottles and instructions and return samples to the municipal office for testing. Cary said he planned to discuss those procedures with Tighe and Bond representatives at an upcoming Saratoga meeting.
The minutes also recorded infrastructure operations: Chairman Hank Van Parys said an insertion valve was installed on the Bard Avenue (north) side of Aspinwall Bridge and that the board planned to install a valve on the Manor Road side on March 5 (the minutes note that this installation happened). The town website posted a notification about the work, and Roomberg was to notify his contacts.
A longstanding dirty-water complaint at 190 Linden Avenue remains unresolved, the minutes said; the dead-end watermain serving a small number of homes was installed for model homes, and the board indicated a flushing hydrant needs to be installed and that it will press to have the work done soon.
Formal procedural actions recorded in the minutes included approval of the Sept. 10, 2025 minutes on a motion by Phil McDougal with a second from Larr Carr, and adjournment at 9:40 P.M. on a motion by Chairman Hank Van Parys and a second from Greg Fildes. Next steps identified in the minutes include issuing the RFP for the tank, Roomberg compiling national rate comparisons, Cary following up with Tighe and Bond on lead-testing procedures, and pressing for installation of a flushing hydrant at Linden Avenue.
