Governor Andrew Cuomo announced $29.7 million in grants to support 18 municipal water infrastructure projects in the North Country. including a $3 million grant to the town of Orleans.
The grants are part of the second round of New York State Water Grants funded through the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.
Orleans town officials have been working to secure funding for a municipal water system to mitigate a number of wells in the community that have salt contamination.
Town officials said earlier this year they needed the additional $3 million in funding to move forward with a $13 million water line project in the vicinity of Route 12 between Alexandria Bay and Fisher's Landing.
The Village of Alexandria Bay officials have proposed supplying the Town of Orleans with municipal water.
"I am ecstatic to hear the news that the pledge state officials made to us several months ago that they would step forward and fill the gap for the town of Orleans is now a reality," Assemblywoman Russell said.
"The residents of the town of Orleans have been dealing with groundwater contamination for too long, and I will continue to track this project to make sure the funding moves forward in as expeditious a manner as possible so the work can get started," Assemblywoman Russell said.
"The crisis in the town of Orleans needs to be fixed immediately. Providing safe drinking water to the residents of Orleans is a sound investment, and the health of our children and families depends on it," she reiterated.
Assemblywoman Russell has previously directed $500,000 toward the project through the state Dormitory Authority.
The town has also been awarded an $11.4 million loan from the state Environmental Facilities Corporation, $500,000 through the North Country Economic Development Council and $100,000 from the state Senate.
She had been a strong supporter as the funding request moved through the regional economic development council process and also had been a strong supporter in the state Assembly for increasing funding for the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, the fund that is the source of the latest $3 million grant.
Town officials have said they face regulations that mean they can only spend $8 million from the loan on the water project.
Following a meeting Assemblywoman Russell attended with other state lawmakers and agency representatives in early February, assurances were made the funding gap would be closed through grant funding.
"I want to thank the Environmental Facilities Corporation for understanding the critical nature of this funding and working with us to make sure the monies were granted for the municipal water system that is of such critical importance to the residents of the town of Orleans," Assemblywoman Russell said.
"We know these water quality issues are a major priority for Gov. Cuomo, and I appreciate his leadership on this issue as well as the measures the state has taken since February to provide bottled water to residents in the town of Orleans and to provide testing of wells in the area impacted by groundwater contamination," she added.
Supervisor Rarick credited Assemblywoman Russell with leading the effort to get the project back on track earlier this year when it slowed down due to bureaucratic hurdles.
"We've had our differences over this, and I said some things that sold some newspapers when I was frustrated by our progress. Addie, to her credit, put those differences aside and kept working with us to get us the money we needed for this project to move forward," he said.
"I think Addie has done very well by the residents of the town of Orleans. She set up the initial meeting that resulted in the state agreeing to fill our funding gap, and Addie got us the most money in the early stages of this process. She deserves a lot of credit," Mr. Rarick added.
The 2016-17 New York State budget includes $100 million in grants for water infrastructure improvements.
This additional funding allowed the Environmental Facilities Corporation to broaden eligibility for wastewater projects and provide a total of $175 million in grants for round two.
In addition, the maximum grant amount for drinking water projects was increased from $2 million to $3 million, or 60 percent of eligible projects costs, whichever is less.
Other communities receiving funding in the latest round of grants awards included:
• Town of Cape Vincent: $622,140 grant toward a $2.4 million drinking water project.
• Town of Clayton: $3 million grant toward a $6.2 million drinking water project.
• Town of Hounsfield: $123,408 grant toward a $205,680 drinking water project.
• Village of Potsdam: $2.68 million grant toward a $10.7 million clean water project.
• City of Watertown: $2.3 million grant toward a $9.2 million clean water project.
More information on how to apply for these loans is available atwww.efc.ny.gov/CLEAN WATERSRF (for wastewater projects)andwww.efc.ny.gov/DRINKING WATERSRF (for drinking water projects).