Town of Plattsburgh

CITY, TOWN WORKING TOWARD WASTEWATER TREATMENT:

The City of Plattsburgh and the Town of Plattsburgh are working toward a 33-year agreement on wastewater treatment.

At a news conference Thursday, Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett said, "By working together, each municipality will save money and provide a more efficient and effective solution to connect and repair water lines located in both the town and city on former PARC property."

CHARGES
The two sides are looking at an agreement that would see the city charge the town $2.55 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater treated at the city plant.

The city charges town residents $3.05 per 1,000 gallons. The last contract between the two municipalities expired June 16, 2002.

Bassett said the memorandum ends the town's pursuit of a $15 million wastewater-treatment plant near the end of Benny Blake Road, which would have discharged into the Saranac River.

"This is a better option, because anytime you don't have to generate debt, you have to look at that," Bassett said.

The city benefits because it is no longer faced with losing its largest customer.

The town benefits because rates would be locked in for 33 years and they are about the same as the town would achieve by building its own plant, without having to build that plant.