Watkins considers water plant funding

   WATKINS GLEN, May 25—The Watkins Glen village is currently looking at new funding options for the new raw water intake plant.
   Mayor Mark Swinnerton said the village expects construction firms to submit bids for the $1.8 million project in June. He added he met last week about funding options; Swinnerton said the village lost a grant for the work in early March. He explained current options include bonding funds or borrowing from the general fund. Swinnerton added if the village borrowed money from itself, it would pay itself back with interest.
   The work includes building a new intake plant and installing a second pipe into the lake for water. Swinnerton explained the village previously sold the original plant to developers. The plan is to turn the site into Magee Point Landing featuring a restaurant and apartments. The village is looking to build the new plant next to this site on Salt Point Road.
   Swinnerton added the project would improve water quality. He explained the second pipe would get water from farther out in Seneca so the village would have to add fewer chemicals to the water.
   The current pipe extends 45 feet into the lake. Swinnerton said the second pipe would go out 70 to 90 feet. He explained the piping portion of the project would cost $600,000. The new building is expected to cost $1.2 million.