The Village of Waterville agreed to hire a company to help determine if the village should apply for a state improvement grant.
At last week’s Village Board meeting the Board voted to hire Thoma Associates.
Trustee Brian Bogan, also president of Waterville First, outlined what Thoma will do to help collect data and put together an application.
Waterville is looking to apply for a Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant from the state. Grants are awarded for $10 million, $4.5 million or $2.25 million.
The level Waterville would apply for will be determined once Thoma helps judge the interest and potential projects from businesses, non-profits and the village.
Bogan said there was a second meeting scheduled with Thoma for March 5 to begin putting together a Steering Committee.
That group will work with Thoma to do the work for the application.
In other matters, the Board transfered $5,656.53 to help cover the cost of a machine to refill Air Packs for the fire department.
The Barton Fund covered $42,000 of the cost.
Workshops for the 2024-25 budget were set for March 6 and 13.
The Board voted no on linking with Progressive Energy as a supplier through NYSEG.
DPW Superintendent Jamie Bechy said all the paperwork has been submitted for a $10,000 grant through Mohawk Valley EDGE for energy upgrades.
The Village will need an energy audit to start.Bechy suggested adding an
electric car charging station in the Village Hall parking lot.
This would be a faster charger than the one in the Village Lot behind the Medical Center.
In addition, the new station could be set to charge for the service.
Bechy talked about some other energy saving steps the Village can take to earn points.
Reaching a level of points would qualify Waterville for a $50,000 energy grant.
Bechy also talked about the need to replace the bridge at the village’s Wastewater Treatment Plant on Route 315.
Debris from the creek underneath the bridge gets stuck and causes flooding.