BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM -- The village project to construct a footbridge and utility crossing over the Raquette River is moving forward.

The Potsdam Village Board of Trustees will convene its regular meeting Nov. 2 and are expected to pass two key resolutions setting the stage for the multi-million crossing project.  

For the River Utility Crossing Project, the board will vote on a resolution that authorizes treasurer Erica Russell to create capital revenue line 25-5790-000 and increase the budgeted amount of 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.

The board is also expected to consider a resolution approving the treasurer to create capital expense line 25-5020-200 and increase the budgeted line amount to $508,000 for engineering services related to the River Utility Crossing Project.

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.

Several other resolutions are also on the agenda for the Monday meeting, including equipment purchase, acceptance of a grant and signing the unpaid tax roll. Included on the agenda are:

• a resolution authorizing the Village Board of Trustees and the Village Tax Collector to sign the Village of Potsdam Tax Roll of Unpaid Taxes for the 2026-2027 period, in the amount of $431,555.30, plus interest and penalties in the amount of $30,208.92, for a total of $461,764.22, as of 4:00 pm on October 7, 2026, to be turned over to the St. Lawrence County Treasurer, Canton, New York.
• a resolution approving the Treasurer to create a Central Garage Travel and Training expense line 05-1640-424. Further increasing the budgeted amount by $2000.00 to cover training for DPW staff.
• a resolution approving the purchase of a John Deere Backhoe Loader for the Department of Public Works in the amount of $165,174.75. DPW has received pre-approval for reimbursement for the full cost of the Backhoe Loader from the CHIPS Program (Consolidated Local Street Highway Program) and the EWR Program (Extreme Winter Recovery Program) after proof of purchase has been submitted.
• a resolution approving the acceptance of a grant in the amount of $3,500.00 from Brookfield Renewable to be used for the 2nd Annual First Night celebration on December 31st, 2026 in Ives Park. The funds will be applied to budget line 05-2705-000, gifts and donations, and will be used in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
• a resolution approving the purchase and installation of keepers and wipers for the Wastewater Treatment Plant based on a submitted quote from BDP Industries in the amount of $10,673.20.
• a resolution authorizing Mayor Jacobs Wilke to execute an agreement between the Village of Potsdam and the Potsdam Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. for the period from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027; consideration of $35,000 to be paid to the Rescue Squad.
• a resolution approving the acceptance of the resignation of DPW Motor Equipment Operator Dillon Smith. Dillon’s last day of employment will be November 6, 2026. Good luck Dillon.

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