News
Works committee considers options for three salt storage facilities
By Francesca Olsen
COLUMBIA COUNTY — At the Public Works and Solid Waste Committee meeting Tuesday, committee members discussed options for new salt storage facilities in Hudson, Kinderhook and Copake. According to Highway Division Director Bernie Kelleher, $700,000 has been set aside for the project,.
“We have a need to build three separate salt storage buildings,” said Kelleher. “The dome is coming out to be the largest bang for the buck.”
Previous salt storage facilities have fallen apart from lack of maintenance. Some, constructed from fabric, have deteriorated from the inside out. An information sheet distributed by Kelleher stated fabric buildings have a “useful life of 15 years before the fabric and frame need to be replaced when used for salt storage.”
“We have every confidence we’ll be able to do two,” said Public Works Commissioner David Robinson. “From a capital cost perspective, I think $700,000 will fund all three.”
Director of Solid Waste Jolene Race gave the committee numbers on household hazardous waste collection for 2009. The estimated cost of household hazardous waste collection for the county is $21,000. Three hundred and twenty four households participated in the collection. Over 95 percent were first timers.
“We’ve been doing the program for 16 years, and we were kind of shocked by that,” said Race. The county is looking to get 50 percent reimbursement for household hazardous waste collection.
Of the hazardous waste collected, 2,400 pounds were solid pesticides, and 396 gallons were liquid pesticides. Five pounds of mercury, 75 pounds of fluorescent light bulbs, and 440 gallons of oil based paints were collected. Of hazardous waste solids, which include oxidizers, aerosols, resins and adhesives, 10,662 pounds were collected. Of hazardous waste liquids, which include acids, bases and oxidizing liquids, 183 gallons were collected.
“We have a need to build three separate salt storage buildings,” said Kelleher. “The dome is coming out to be the largest bang for the buck.”
Previous salt storage facilities have fallen apart from lack of maintenance. Some, constructed from fabric, have deteriorated from the inside out. An information sheet distributed by Kelleher stated fabric buildings have a “useful life of 15 years before the fabric and frame need to be replaced when used for salt storage.”
“We have every confidence we’ll be able to do two,” said Public Works Commissioner David Robinson. “From a capital cost perspective, I think $700,000 will fund all three.”
Director of Solid Waste Jolene Race gave the committee numbers on household hazardous waste collection for 2009. The estimated cost of household hazardous waste collection for the county is $21,000. Three hundred and twenty four households participated in the collection. Over 95 percent were first timers.
“We’ve been doing the program for 16 years, and we were kind of shocked by that,” said Race. The county is looking to get 50 percent reimbursement for household hazardous waste collection.
Of the hazardous waste collected, 2,400 pounds were solid pesticides, and 396 gallons were liquid pesticides. Five pounds of mercury, 75 pounds of fluorescent light bulbs, and 440 gallons of oil based paints were collected. Of hazardous waste solids, which include oxidizers, aerosols, resins and adhesives, 10,662 pounds were collected. Of hazardous waste liquids, which include acids, bases and oxidizing liquids, 183 gallons were collected.
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