One has to wonder about the county government’s fervent interest in Fredonia water. The village’s dam, reservoir and water treatment plant have been neglected by past mayors and village boards for decades and yet the county government has never shown an interest in assisting with Fredonia’s water woes until now.

The county and their North County Water District are offering funds reportedly totaling around $70,000 to bankroll a study by LaBella Associates to determine if partnering Fredonia with the NCWD will show a savings to the village and Fredonia water purchasers. All but one of the Fredonia trustees are reportedly happy to have the county pay for another Fredonia water study.

Trustees have stated that they are willing to accept the county’s generosity because village taxpayers aren’t paying for this study.

But village taxpayers also pay county taxes so Fredonia taxpayers are actually paying for this study, along with the rest of the taxpaying county.

Why would county government spend tax dollars on a study for Fredonia water unless there was something in it for county government, the NCWD and the county taxpayers who do not reside in the village of Fredonia?

Could it be that county government and the NCWD understand what the Fredonia mayor and a majority of the village board do not? There is revenue to be had from the sale of potable water. The county and the NCWD would be happy to share or even take all of Fredonia’s water revenue.

Be reminded that the village has already paid LaBella $140,000 for a study that showed that upgrading the village’s dam, reservoir and water treatment plant was a financially sound and superior plan to buying water directly from Dunkirk. This study echoed the results of a similar six figure study paid for by the village in 2016.

The Fredonia mayor and a trustee majority chose to ignore the results of the most recent study and move ahead with a plan to draw down the reservoir and buy water from Dunkirk anyway. Their scheme was thwarted when it was determined by a judge that an environmental study was necessary in order to move forward with this plan.

The professionals at LaBella were unaware that an environmental study was a necessary step in this process. Now the county wants to give these experts more money for yet another study. Don’t be surprised if the next study is flawed, skewed to show a desired result or simply ignored by a myopic village board hell bent on giving up on a valuable village asset and the revenue that comes from the sale of water.

A county legislator made headlines recently when he proposed that the city of Dunkirk sell their brand new water treatment plant to the county in an effort to solve the city’s financial crisis.Why would the county be interested in buying Dunkirk’s water treatment plant? Could it be that at least one county legislator, who is also on the NCWD board, realizes what the mayor and the majority of the Fredonia village board can’t seem to wrap their heads around?

There is revenue to be had in the selling of clean drinking water. Dunkirk officials were quick to let this county legislator know that Dunkirk’s water treatment plant is not for sale. The city desperately needs the revenue that comes from the sale of water and would be happy to expand their customer base.

Dunkirk is not going to sell off a valuable and important city asset and let the county and the NCWD make money off of it.

At least there was an offer, albeit a low ball one, by this legislator to buy Dunkirk’s WTP. Why are Fredonia officials so hell bent on simply giving up water revenue when they have no plan to make up for the loss of funds?

A Fredonia trustee stated at a recent board meeting that rejecting the county’s offer to pay for yet another LaBella water study would be a kick in the pants to residents who will never know if there is a savings to be had were the village to hook up with the NCWD.

The real kick in the pants for Fredonia residents is the time and money being wasted by this mayor and a majority of trustees. This village board continues to ignore the previous water studies and the will of the people.

Village government should have already gotten started on upgrading Fredonia’s dam, reservoir and water treatment plant. If the county and the NCWD really wanted to help Fredonia, why didn’t they offer $70,000 to help the village get started with the upgrades to Fredonia’s dam reservoir and water treatment plant?

Andrew Ludwig is a Fredonia resident.