At last week’s Village Board of Trustee Meeting, the water department requested holding off on the flushing of hydrants until fall, due to low water pressure because of the dry conditions so far this summer. Ellenville Village Manager Michael Warren expressed a concern shared by the fire companies that some of the hydrants haven’t been flushed in a while and their condition is unknown.

Sewer Costs Continue

Mike Ryman, head of the sewer department, reported that concrete continued to crumble at certain areas of the village sewer system’s tanks. Meanwhile the village will spend $3,075 for pump repair work to Siewert Equipment. Ryman said that the pump that failed was original equipment. It had also been repaired four times previously. In addition, the village will pay $6,486 to De Nore Water Technologies for ultraviolet parts.

A new Kubota tractor was also requested, at $27,778, to replace an older model.

Office Concerns

Warren announced that the village will spend $109,652 on the Springbrook software system for payroll, finance, and utility billing. Warren explained that currently there are several programs operating on these areas and that it was difficult, even impossible to move items between them. Moving to Springbrook, a company headquartered in Portland Oregon, will simplify everything.

Warren noted that the recent resignation of the village bookkeeper had come, at least in part, due to frustration over the fiddly complications with numbers in different programs. The village is still seeking a new treasurer.

Warren also reported that the village is planning to bring all 10 of its generators under one firm for maintenance and repairs. Having a different repair service for each one was confusing and expensive.