To better obtain grants, the Village of Waterville will have an updated survey done on the condition of houses in the village.
Mayor Gene Ostrander said at last week’s Village Board meeting that he and other village officials met with the Thoma Development Consultants of Cortland. Thoma has handled the village’s grant applications and administering for years.
Waterville is finishing the latest Community Development Housing project, where qualified homes and homeowners receive $25,000 to $30,000 in updates to make their homes more energy efficient and up to codes.
Thoma suggested doing an updated assessment of the village’s housing condition; the data used is from 2015.
Village Board members approved spending $3,000 for the new survey, which will be conducted by Thoma by walking the village and photographing each house. Waterville plans to apply for another housing grant since a waiting list from the last one remains.
Thoma also discussed with the Village officials water-sewer services funding to address lead and copper in drinking water pipes. The Board decided to wait on that until state directives are clearer.
DPW Superintendent Jamie Bechy said as of now the state will require all lead or galvanized pipes to be replaced by 2032. However, the state is also saying this comes at the municipality’s expense.
Bechy said the cost would mean doing just one street at a time. “Every village, town and city in the state has…
Comments