ELIZABETHTOWN — The Elizabethtown Town Council and others feel a sewer system is a needed part of the hamlet's infrastructure.

But some hamlet residents have raised concerns about the project, which is planned for the Woodruff Lane area.

The anticipated cost of the system is $9,550,000, with $4,147,000 coming from a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, $1 million from a state grant, $4,303,000 in an interest-free loan from the Environmental Facilities Corp. and $1 million with a USDA loan at 2.62-percent interest.

The annual cost would be $362 per year for a typical one-family home. Hooking up is included in the initial construction costs.

Maintenance would be through a licensed operator who would be on call in case of a malfunction.

A public referendum for all (except not-profit) property owners within the district will be conducted in January.

CONCERNS
Among the concerns expressed by the Citizens Committee for Clean Water are:

  The site is an important recreational area and natural resource of the town where the Branch and Boquet rivers converge.

  Woodruff Lane is adjacent to the Hale/Hand Historic District, which includes several well-preserved buildings of significant architectural and historic value.

  An environmental-assessment form states that there would be odors from the facility for more than one hour per day in "optimum conditions."

  The confluence of the Boquet and the Branch, about 200 feet downstream from the proposed effluent discharge, has been identified as the core of a "green spine" for Elizabethtown. This would include pedestrian walkways and a footbridge to several sites.

  According to town laws and zoning code, the Woodruff Lane site is in a hamlet-protectorate area, requiring permits from the zoning enforcement officer with the approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board.

  During a March 17 public meeting, Supervisor Noel Merrihew spoke in favor of locating the sewage-treatment plant at the Fish and Game Club outside the hamlet of Elizabethtown.

The two other sites mentioned — Woodruff and River Street — were included for administrative purposes. A month later, Merrihew announced that the Fish and Game Club site was not an option.

  During a second meeting, Merrihew was asked if alternatives to this large and comprehensive treatment plan had been considered, and he said no.

HEALTH FACILITIES
Questions have also been raised as to the disposal of toxic medicines and chemotherapy chemicals from the wastewater of Elizabethtown Community Hospital and Horace Nye Nursing Home.

The hospital assured that it does not dispose of drugs or medical waste into the septic system, being bound by state and federal laws for the proper disposal of all medical waste, prescription drugs included.

Drugs, including chemotherapy, are infused or ingested into a patient's body.

Out-of-date prescription drugs are removed from the hospital pharmacy by a licensed company.

Strict protocols are in place to deal with accidental spills. A spill kit is used, and the entire kit is then properly disposed of using a licensed company.

STATE OVERSIGHT
Merrihew said that all archeological and environmental concerns have been and will be addressed. The project will also be monitored by the Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies.

The site and proposed sewer lines will be environmentally and architecturally evaluated by core samples, and water discharged into the river from the plant will exceed DEC requirements for purity.

NEED
Wastewater is currently contained by individual systems. Because of antiquated home septic systems, concerns about leaching into the river have been expressed.

New regulations make it difficult and expensive to replace septic systems, town officials noted, and there is major concern about residences on Water Street, which is close to the river and has homes on small lots.

In addition, the hospital, Nursing Home, county office complex and school currently have to be pumped on a regular basis, another factor that officials say shows the need for a public sewer system.

E-mail Alvin Reiner at: rondackrambler@yahoo.com