BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- A handful of village residents on Center Street will receive compensation for right-of-way easements on certain properties as part of a culvert replacement project.

Village trustees approved the compensation at a recent board meeting, during which Department of Public Works Superintendent Marty Miller detailed what was needed for the project.

As part of the agreement, owners of parcels one and five will be paid $500, while parcels two and three will net the owners $850. Parcels four and six will be $500, according to Mayor Greg Paquin.

According to Miller, the compensation will be for the inconvenience caused by the project.

"There's really not much change in their property,” he said.

Miller did note that minor changes may happen to parcels four and six.

The funds will come from a $1 million grant awarded to the village for the project.

Miller said the village had three options for the culvert, including leaving it as it was, doing rehab work on it or a total replacement, however after reviewing the site it was determined a total replacement was needed.

The outlet of the culvert will now move away from the House of Groom foundation after village officials acquired two parcels and received temporary easements on two others.

When the project begins, a detour will be used to divert traffic from Center St. to Maple St., Miller previously said.

That project should be complete by the end of summer or early fall, officials say.