The 33 Petrova Ave. property is seen in September 2024. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

SARANAC LAKE — The village board approved two contracts for environmental and geotechnical studies on the 33 Petrova Ave. property — where the village is proposing a public safety building for Saranac Lake’s fire, rescue and police departments — at a special mid-day meeting on Tuesday.

Two trustees — Kelly Brunette and Aurora White — were not able to attend the meeting. They are more critical of the project’s process than others on the board. That left Mayor Jimmy Williams and trustees Sean Ryan and Matt Scollin — all supporters of the project. Brunette had requested the meeting be rescheduled.

Both contracts were approved with a unanimous three votes.

Despite the meeting taking place at noon, several of the projects opponents and critics were able to attend. There were more people livestreaming it than typical.

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The contracts

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Both contracts were awarded to the low bidders.

The board approved a $2,500 contract with Plattsburgh-based KAS Environmental Science and Engineering for the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment. KAS estimates it can complete its assessment within three to four weeks from when it starts.

This assessment is part of the State Environmental Quality Review required in the design process and will allow the village to officially get the $4.5 million federal grant it got through Congressionally directed spending requested by North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik.

KAS previously completed a hazardous materials survey of asbestos at the building in 2023.

The board approved a $31,400 contract with Albany-based Collier’s Engineering and Design for the geotechnical study. The firm will study the soil and ground to assess the land’s allowable bearing capacity. The project proposes the construction of a new single-story garage to hold heavy vehicles like fire trucks.

To read more about the contracts, go to tinyurl.com/4ubmkcat.

Williams said these studies should give the board and the public some solid answers on certain issues, instead of relying on speculation.

A couple days before and after the board’s last meeting on Aug. 11, consultants at the Wendel Architecture, Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture firm made their recommendations for the companies to use.

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Public comment

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Village resident and project neighbor Mark Wilson gave the board a handout in which he overlaid the most recent conceptual floor plan over the current one. He said the proposed floor plan encroaches on sewer line and electric line easements at several points.

“This design won’t work,” Wilson told the board. “This property … is ill-suited for the purpose that you want it to be suited for. … At some point, you have to acknowledge that the building that you imagined here doesn’t fit.”

He believes the project is tight on space in terms of land, but excessive in terms of building space.

Wilson also urged the village to do a financing plan before pursuing the project. Since Williams has not answered his questions on how much he’s willing to take out in loans for the project, Wilson said he is presuming the worst — the highest allowable amount.

Williams previously said that’s not the way things work in the grant world. Studies need to be done before certain grant applications can be submitted. Many of them want to see “shovel-ready” projects to support.

Village resident and project neighbor Elizabeth Kochar felt there was not much of a notice for the special meeting, which was announced four days before it was held. She said this was “not residential-friendly.”

The village put notices on social media, its website, an email list and notified the Enterprise, but Kochar said she learned about the meeting over the weekend from a friend.

After the last village meeting, Kochar said she was under the impression the board was “looking at options” for the public safety building project and was surprised to see contracts for studies written up already. Williams said the board had voted on entering the first phase of design previously.

Scollin said, to him, there is no consideration of alternate locations for the emergency services. Ever since 33 Petrova became available, it is the best spot in his mind. Ryan agreed.

Village resident Tamara Van Ryan was concerned with low cost and scope of KAS’ bid.

She said the village will be on the hook for any undiscovered environmental cleanup, and felt the environmental review should be more robust to protect the village and make sure there are no hazardous materials there.

Village resident Joy Cranker called for public hearings on the project that have not happened since it was first announced.

The public has 30 days to seek a permissive referendum if they oppose the expenditure.

“The petition for a referendum would need to have 5% or no less than 100 electors (registered voters in last general election) for a population of 5,000,” Village Clerk Amanda Hopf said in an email.

Since this is based on whichever number is lower, the number of signatures needed is 100.

If a permissive referendum is called for, it would be determined by a simple majority vote by the public.