Village awaits word on several grants
Mayor Joe D’Onofrio gave the following project updates to The News this week:
Downtown Revitalization Initiative: For the fourth time, Highland Falls is applying to New York State for a $10 million grant for the revitalization of Main St. “We’ve come close before,” D’Onofrio said, “and have incorporated the state’s suggestions into our application. We can get this.” At the Sept. 7 meeting of the Village Board, representatives of the LA Group, the village’s planning consultants, will speak about the village’s application.
Comprehensive Plan: The village’s current Comprehensive Plan is 10 years old, the mayor said, and needs to be redone. The LA Group, has applied for a grant to do that work. “Of course,” the mayor noted, “if the voters approve dissolution, a new plan isn’t needed.”
Water & Sewer Projects: Engineering work is underway for water and sewer line projects in Ondaora Park, and water lines in Cragston. The project, for which the board has authorized a $3.4 million bond, but has not borrowed that money yet, is facing more discussion by the Village Board.
American Rescue Plan Funds: The village was allotted $392,716 in American Rescue Plan funds, and has already received checks of $195,559 and $798. The remaining $196,358 is expected in the summer of 2022. There are restrictions for the use of the funds, but D’Onofrio said the village is leaning toward using them for infrastructure repair, quite possibly the Ondaora and Cragston projects.
Roe Park: The LA Group has applied for $268,000 in state funds (a 50% matchng grant) to create a picnic grove, fishing pier, dog park, walking trail and improve parking on the south end of Roe Park (near the Little League Field). “We expect to hear soon on this application,” the mayor said.
Cell Antennas: Now that the board approved the installation of two cell antennas (on the roof of Village Hall and in the Senior Center parking lot), Verizon’s work has begun. The antennas are expected to significantly better cell phone reception in Highland Falls.
Dam Inspection: Shumaker Engineering and Land Surveying has been working on the village’s Emergency Action Plan and Stability Report, inspecting the upper and lower sections of the Bog Meadow Dam. That report is due to the Village Board in September.
Sewer Plant: Two projects are underway at the village’s Sewer Plant — moving the generator higher so that should there be flooding from the Hudson River it would not be affected; and working on a project to use the methane gas produced by the plant to heat the facility instead of oil being purchased for that purpose.
Sidewalks: The village has applied for $100,000 in funds from the Orange County 2022 Block Grant program for funds to replace sidewalks in the Schneider Ave./Center St. area.
