CASSADAGA - The Cassadaga Village Board held a special meeting about the water project on Wednesday. At its last regular meeting last week, project engineer Greg McCorkhill and the board decided on the extra meeting because McCorkhill did not have enough information to satisfy the board.
At one point during that meeting, McCorkhill talked about using concrete blocks to construct the building that will surround the well and house the chemicals needed to treat the water.
Trustee Michael Lehnen stopped him and asked if the material used had to be concrete. McCorkhill said he wasn't sure but that was what was being recommended.
At that time, Lehnen said, "I don't care what is recommended. I want to know what is required."
At the special meeting, McCorkhill came with enough answers to allow the board of trustees to give direction to him for designing the building. He began with his understanding of the reason for the meeting.
"We are here to work through the building construction," he said.
Speaking to Lehnen's comment about requirements, McCorkhill said, "There are no specific requirements for construction materials. Bill still believes that concrete 8 inch blocks are the best, but he can't force you to do that."
McCorkhill brought copies of the email and also cited the reasons supplied. Concrete block pre-cast concrete would eliminate moisture damage and discourage rodents. Concrete should also increase the longevity of the building and be more secure.
McCorkhill gave rough estimates of the cost of the building shell: between $40,000 to $45,000 for a wood frame building; about $60,000 for a building made of 8 inch concrete block and between $68,000 and $70,000 for a pre-cast concrete building.
Mayor Lazarony asked the trustees to in turn state a preference. Deputy Mayor Rodney Waite said, "Definitely concrete block." Utilizing his sense of humor, he explained his reasoning, "Anyone read the Three Little Pigs? What happened to the wood house?"
Trustee DeChard spoke next, "The Village taxpayers are spending a lot of money on this project. This should help the project last."
Lehnen also agreed. Trustee Culverwell was absent.
The board then went on to deal with other aspects of the construction. The building will be plain outside and painted inside. Other options would have been to finish the building on the inside, paint the outside or get colored concrete blocks. The board ruled out expenses that weren't essential.
Lehnen said, "It's not a showplace. It's meant to be a strong, functional, long lasting building."
The board chose a steel roof over shingles for durability.
One aspect about the building provoked debate between Waite and Lehnen. The design of the building will need to be different if the village decides to fluoridate the water. Fluoride needs to have a separate place in the building with a separate door.
Waite, a dentist, believes the water supply should be fluoridate "based on 60 years of scientific research." He also felt that the board should make the decision. Lehnen, while not specifically saying he is against fluoridation, feels that the village should conduct a referendum on the subject.
Waite said he is open to questions from village residents on all topics and would be willing to especially discuss this one. He brought a handout from the American Dental Association called 10 reasons to fluoridate public water, and gave persons at the table a copy. Waite said it is available at www.ad.org.
In the end Lehnen agreed that building should be constructed with the provision for fluoridation, so that if/when the public wants to do this, the building will not have to be redone.
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