RENSSELAER COUNTY TO ASSIST POESTENKILL WITH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WATER SYSTEM TO SERVE ALGONQUIN SCHOOL AREA, COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE MCLAUGHLIN AND SUPERVISOR KEITH HAMMOND ANNOUNCE
Rensselaer County will be assisting the Town of Poestenkill with support to make a project to extend municipal water service to the Algonquin Middle School area a reality, County Executive Steve McLaughlin and Poestenkill Supervisor Keith Hammond announced today.
The project will see the county provide $600,000 in the county’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funding to support extension of the public water service to the area, county and town officials said.
Once extended to Algonquin, approximately 150 residents will have the opportunity to form a town water district and have the service provided to individual homes and properties.
“This project will protect health, safety and quality of life, along with establishing a platform for future growth and investment in this area of Poestenkill,” said McLaughlin.
“We appreciate the help and support of Rensselaer County and County Executive McLaughlin in this important project. The town has put considerable work into this project and the county assistance will erase a funding shortfall,” said Hammond.
The Algonquin area was the center of a recent discovery of elevated levels of PFAS (Per-andpolyflorinatedsubstance). The PFAS were initially discovered at the school during an annual test, and eventually elevated detected at several residences near the school.
To date, the town has received $3.2 million in funding from the state, an additional $600,000 from the state, and $1.6 million in funding secured by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, along with the county funding.
“Poestenkill has received help from a number of sources on the federal, state and now county levels and that has made a difference. We are now able to extend an important service that will protect the health of students and eventually residents to an important area of our town,” said Hammond.
“Safe drinking water is essential, and protecting our children and their families is of utmost importance to us. We are proud to commit this funding to this important project in my district”, Kelly Hoffman- Chairwoman of the Legislature.
“The county’s $600,000 will go a long way in protecting the students at the school and the neighboring residents. After attending several meetings about the contamination, and listening to concerned residents, it is great to help secure the funding for my hometown of Poestenkill and get this project underway”, Rob Bayly- Vice-Chair of Finance.
The county has received $30.5 million in ARPA funds. A project to extend water and sewer infrastructure along State Route 9 in Schodack has utilized approximately $21 million. Support was also provided for a project to extend sewer service along sections of Maple Hill Road in Schodack. Enhancements for staffing at the Van Rensselaer Manor utilized approximately $3 million. Further announcements on ARPA funds will be forthcoming.
“The county has primarily utilized ARPA funds for the extension of infrastructure in the county. A lack of infrastructure has been a major impediment in attracting certain types of development and investment, and we are working to correct that issue. That is why our involvement in the Poestenkill project makes sense,” said McLaughlin.