Consultant: Lake Placid's new wastewater plant online; punch‑list and reimbursements remain

Roger Hellman of Pennoni told the council the town’s new main wastewater treatment plant has been started up and is successfully treating wastewater, and that staff have been trained by the equipment manufacturer (Ovivo). Hellman said contractors repaired most leaking joints found during hydraulic testing; four to five leaks remain and a re‑test is scheduled.

He explained remaining major tasks: conversion of the existing package plant into a digester and contact chamber, resolving access‑road drainage issues so runoff flows to the newly constructed storm pond, and completing punch‑list items before final completion. Hellman said the Main Street and South lift stations are constructed, tested and in operation, with only minor piping and punch‑list work left.

Council members asked about the former package plant site and whether the town had discussed selling it; staff said no formal plan is in place and suggested the topic be assigned to the LUPREC committee for future consideration. Staff also described decommissioning to meet DEP standards and noted designs used variable‑frequency‑drive pumps to allow higher flows if needed in the future.

On funding, staff updated the council on grant disbursements tied to the larger WGO‑17 award. The grants presentation stated approximately $34,000,000 of the $40,000,000 grant has been drawn down so far, with about $2,600,000 remaining to request as invoices are submitted. The town has temporarily used a $4,000,000 bank line of credit to pay vendors pending state reimbursements; staff said they expect to repay that line when the next drawdown is processed.

Next steps: Pennoni expects to reach substantial completion and run a final inspection within days to a couple of weeks if remaining repairs hold; staff will continue to prepare punch lists and submit monthly draw requests to the state.