In the News
Times Herald-Record: Warwick welcomes stimulus
March 9, 2010
Village to use federal money for water plant
By Alyssa Sunkin
WARWICK — After years of wondering how to pay for a new filtration plant to keep drinking water clean, the village saw $2 million fall into its lap Monday.
Standing at the site of a well that is a major source of drinking water for the village, Rep. John Hall announced he's giving the village a chunk of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money to fund the plant and ensure water purity.
"We set out to funnel federal dollars to the states at a time when the states were struggling so we could put people to work, keep people at work," Hall said. "This is exactly the kind of project that was intended for."
Three years ago, the state required the village to test water from the shallow, 60-foot-deep well dug in a sandy gravel aquifer inside Memorial Park.
The test showed that water from the nearby Wawayanda Creek was seeping into the aquifer, which could contaminate the water supply.
While no contaminants were found, the state required the village to take preventative measures and filter out the groundwater.
The village applied for state aid to pay for the project, estimated at $2.2 million.
Mayor Michael Newhard intended to move forward with the project regardless of aid, but then Congress passed the stimulus act.
"Then, just by happenstance, by luck, by God looking kindly on us, we were in the right place at the right time," he said.
The state approved the project using stimulus, half as a grant, half as a loan.
"That's a remarkable gift for the taxpayers of this community," Newhard said.
Not only will the federal money reduce local costs, but it will also put local people to work, whether it be through the village's engineering staff or through the contractor.
Village engineer Michael Murphy said construction should begin by April or May and will take a year to complete.
Times Herald-Record: Warwick welcomes stimulus
March 9, 2010
Village to use federal money for water plant
By Alyssa Sunkin
WARWICK — After years of wondering how to pay for a new filtration plant to keep drinking water clean, the village saw $2 million fall into its lap Monday.
Standing at the site of a well that is a major source of drinking water for the village, Rep. John Hall announced he's giving the village a chunk of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money to fund the plant and ensure water purity.
"We set out to funnel federal dollars to the states at a time when the states were struggling so we could put people to work, keep people at work," Hall said. "This is exactly the kind of project that was intended for."
Three years ago, the state required the village to test water from the shallow, 60-foot-deep well dug in a sandy gravel aquifer inside Memorial Park.
The test showed that water from the nearby Wawayanda Creek was seeping into the aquifer, which could contaminate the water supply.
While no contaminants were found, the state required the village to take preventative measures and filter out the groundwater.
The village applied for state aid to pay for the project, estimated at $2.2 million.
Mayor Michael Newhard intended to move forward with the project regardless of aid, but then Congress passed the stimulus act.
"Then, just by happenstance, by luck, by God looking kindly on us, we were in the right place at the right time," he said.
The state approved the project using stimulus, half as a grant, half as a loan.
"That's a remarkable gift for the taxpayers of this community," Newhard said.
Not only will the federal money reduce local costs, but it will also put local people to work, whether it be through the village's engineering staff or through the contractor.
Village engineer Michael Murphy said construction should begin by April or May and will take a year to complete.
