Village receives $186K grant for dam reservoir project

Warwick — The wheels of government move slowly, but move they do. Two years after the completion of the lower reservoir dam project, the village received a state grant in the amount of $186,473.64. “We are very grateful to Senator Morahan for helping us with this project,” said Mayor Michael Newhard. State Sen. Thomas Morahan secured the money through the state Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act. The total cost of the project was $491,372. Deemed unsafe by the Department of Environmental Conservation, the dam at the Village of Warwick’s reservoirs underwent some much needed renovation, which started in 2002 and was completed in 2004. The project expanded the spillway from 20 feet to 50 feet wide to allow for more overflow area to the stream. It also led to a more than a million dollar clean-up of the reservoir when contaminated silt was found while dredging to increase the capacity. That bill was offset by $1 million from the state Oil Spill Fund, which the village received last year. This latest grant was received after a lengthy final review and inspection. Cathy Schweizer, the village’s Department of Public Works clerk, and Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt’s office at the state legislature were responsible for tracking the process and for procuring the funds. This money will go into the village’s Water Fund.