Roosevelt looks to repair old water tower with $500K bond
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

ROOSEVELT — A $565,000 bond ordinance that would pay for repairs for the borough's 72-year-old water tower was introduced at the June 22 council meeting. The introduction of the ordinance passed by a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Daniel Hoffman casting the dissenting vote. A second reading and public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for the July 13 meeting.

The project entails the rehabilitation of the water storage tank, including removal of the existing paint, repair of the concrete base, rewelding of joints, coating systems for the interior and exterior of the tank, and installation of cathodic protection to prevent metal corrosion. The water treatment plant upgrades include the replacement of the doors, windows and fence as well as installation of exterior security lighting. Also included is the replacement of the booster pumps and filter media for the iron-removal filters.

Councilman Jeff Ellentuck said that the total engineering fees for the project would be about $170,000, but the state would pick up 25 percent of those fees. If the entire amount of the bond is not spent on the project, Ellentuck said there is more work the town wants to do at the water station, and he assumed any leftover funds could be applied for those uses.

Councilwoman Arlene Stinson said the borough would lock itself into the debt based on estimates for the project. She said that substantive conversations with the engineers indicated that the $565,000 is the "bottom" of what the project would cost.

When asked why he voted against the ordinance, Hoffman replied that specific details as to why the borough may be acquiring an additional half-million dollars in debt with the water-sewer system has not been thoroughly discussed.

"The issue of whether to repair or replace the water tower lingered for months primarily due to a disagreement over a cheaper repair versus a more expensive replacement," Hoffman said. "Now, we are facing costs approaching what was estimated to be the cost of replacing the tower, yet without any clear indication of exactly what we are going to get in return for taking on this debt."

In May 2006, Councilman Bob Silverstein reported that Borough Engineer Carmella Roberts told him it would cost the borough between $450,000 and $900,000 to replace the water tower.

Hoffman said he understands that the money needs to be in place before estimates are done. He believes it's not completely convincing to say that the borough will take on the debt and whatever is not spent will be used for other operational activities, specifically activities that are probably covered by the normal operating budget. He added that there has been no discussion as to what impact this additional debt will have on residents' water-sewer bills, especially during an economic crisis and rising unemployment.