Aging Millerton hydrants swapped out for new models

Cory Moore of Bellamy Construction reflects on the work installing new fire hydrants in Millerton on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

Aging Millerton hydrants swapped out for new models

MILLERTON – Ten new fire hydrants have now been installed in the Village thanks to the Water Infrastructure Improvement Award (WIIA), a $1 million-plus grant which provided the funding for this project as well as two additional projects with a focus on water meters and painting the local water tower.

Mayor Jenn Najdek explained it was necessary to replace the Village hydrants, which had been deteriorating, and were less efficient than the newly installed ones. “It was a problem,” Najdek said, citing public safety concerns as the motivating factor for prioritizing this particular project. The decaying hydrants, Najdek said, were considerably older than their counterparts outside the Village, which were replaced back in the 1980s.

The reliability of the aging Village hydrants was becoming a source of unease to Village officials as their dependability could not be guaranteed in an emergency. The new models promise to be reliable and more efficient as they are equipped with a shut-off mechanism to prevent unnecessary water overflow, which, as a bonus, also makes them environmentally friendly. Additionally, the upgrade will enhance the character of the Village with the more visually appealing new models.

Najdek was quick to credit Bellamy Construction, who began work on the hydrants at the beginning of October, for a rapid turnaround within a matter of weeks. “They’re a fast-moving company,” she said, explaining that while certain sections presented their own challenges, Bellamy remained focused on the task at hand, and is now wrapping up the final stages of construction by replacing blacktop where needed and restoring impacted lawns and topsoil.

Latest News

Amenia approves pool at Troutbeck estate hotel

Troutbeck's sign at the intersection of Leedsville Road and Route 343 in Amenia.

Archive photo

AMENIA — Public hearings continued from the previous meeting concluded at the regular meeting of the Amenia Planning Board on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Having considered public comment, the board approved applications from Troutbeck for an indoor pool and from DaVinci Windows for a sign installation.

No public comment was heard in connection with the Troutbeck proposal to construct an outdoor pool as briefly described by project engineer Rich Rennia of Rennia Engineering of Dover Plains. The application is part of Phase 8 of Troutbeck’s adaptive reuse application, revised recently to reduce the environmental impact.

Keep ReadingShow less
Final grant of $675,000 awarded for Eddie Collins Memorial Park pool project
Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton will the the site of a new community pool, with construction expected to begin by Spring 2025.
Archive photo

MILLERTON — Calling the ongoing revitalization of Eddie Collins Memorial Park “the largest project the village has taken on,” Mayor Jenn Najdek has disclosed additional funding has come through in support of its upgrade.

This past December, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation awarded the village a matching grant of up to $675,000 in support of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Swimming Pool Project. With these monies, funding for Phase II of the project, which stems largely from a NY SWIMS capital grant, is now at $7.56 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pine Plains median home prices stay relatively steady at year's end

This 3 bedroom/2 bath renovated raised ranch at 7760 Main St. in Pine Plains sold for $590,000.

Photo by Christine Bates

PINE PLAINS — From August through November there were 14 sales in Pine Plains with only one on Lake Road selling for over a million dollars and two homes for over $500,000 — a midcentury modern in town closing for $590,000 and a historic house on 8.5 acres for $660,000.

Since September 2021 the median price for publicly listed properties in Pine Plains has hovered at around $350,000. Properties listed in mid-January include seven residences ranging in price from $150,000 to $8.95 million, six pieces of land and Harvest Homestead Farm on 343 acres with a fully functioning distillery formerly associated with 1930’s mobster Dutch Schultz.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Francis ‘Frank’ McNally

MILLERTON — Donald Francis “Frank” McNally Jr., passed away peacefully at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Wednesday Jan. 8, 2025, after a short illness. Frank was a resident of Millerton since 1996. He was born on Jan. 27, 1955, in Cold Spring, New York, at Butterfield Hospital and was raised in Garrison, New York, where he enjoyed exploring and camping in the wilderness of the Hudson Valley, participating in the Boy Scouts as a bugler, and competing as captain of his high school wrestling team.

He was a graduate of James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls class of ‘74 and SUNY Cobleskill class of ‘76 where he majored in animal husbandry, specializing in equine science. He then proudly volunteered for the United States Peace Corps where he accepted an assignment to his host country of the Philippines, where he met his wife. Frank would then pursue his lifelong passion for horses and horseback riding on several horse farms in Dutchess County. Later he would work for New York state where he would then retire, spending his time caring for animals, reading, fishing and taking photographs. Frank enjoyed a good laugh with family and friends, while also occasionally winning a game of RISK. Frank was an avid reader, often reading several books a week while in the constant company of his cat.

Keep ReadingShow less