BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM -- Plans to relocate an asbestos-lined utility line from the bed of the Raquette River to a proposed foot bridge crossing from Fall Island to Garner Park got a push forward this week. 

The village board of trustees voted on two key measures related to the project at their village board meeting Nov. 2. 

Treasurer Erica Russell was authorized to create a revenue line in the village budget for the River Utility Crossing Project, and increase the line to $2.4 million. 

The new expense line will allow the village to accept a state Environmental Facilities Corporation's Clean Water State Revolving Fund hardship financing loan to cover the River Utility Crossing Project cost.

Trustees and the mayor also voted unanimously to direct Russell to create another budget line to pay for engineering services related to the project. The treasurer was authorized to increase the line to $508,000 to cover the cost of design work. 

Earlier this year, the village inked a contract with regional firm Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C. for professional engineering services for the Raquette River Utility Crossing and Pedestrian Bridge Project. The cost at that time was not to exceed $478,000 for the service.

The aging utility line was first identified as a priority infrastructure issue for the village in 2023 during a Clarkson Civil & Environmental Engineering Capstone Design Course.

Believed to contain asbestos, the line sits on the river bed and is prone to potential failure. 

At the time, the students suggested rerouting a new sanitary line along a pedestrian bridge connecting the north-most point of Fall Island with Garner Park for an estimated cost of around $550,000.