Wallkill Valley Times Jun. 28 2017

T IMES WALLKILL VALLEY Vol. 35, No 26 3 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 The long-awaited construction of the Taylor biomass facility in Montgomery is expected to begin this fall, according to James Taylor, owner and mastermind. Taylor came before the Town of Montgomery Planning Board on Monday to deliver the news that he is anticipating a financial closing for the facility by Sept. 30, with construction starting the following day. “It seems Wall Street is moving again,” said Taylor. The project— previously estimated at $134 million—has been in limbo for several years after the investors and financial backing for the project disappeared. “Wall Street just wasn’t interested in anything, no matter how good a deal it was,” said Taylor. Taylor said all of his approvals are Umps walk off the field Inside Page 40 www .W allkill V alley T imes . net done, most of his documents are already complete for the biomass gasification facility—they just need updating ahead of construction in the fall—and he is ready to go to the building inspector for a new building permit. Taylor’s news broke the ice for his subsequent proposal: a number of changes and additions to the site, including a repair shop with office space, outdoor Continued on page 2 Rite of passage Who has the best water in Orange County? Montgomery! By MELANIE ZERAH Bond Brungard Blue and gold caps are tossed into the air, Saturday morning, at the Pine Bush graduation. Story, photos on page 20. ONE DOLLAR The Class of 2017 Despite delays, Taylor remains an optimist By RACHEL COLEMAN 3 The verdict is in. The best drinking water in Orange County belongs to the Village of Montgomery. Mayor L. Stephen Brescia made the announcement last week at the June 20 village board meeting. It apparently caught a few people in the audience by surprise. “How can this happen?” asked resident Don Berger, who frequently spars with the mayor at village meetings. “The village has been supplying brown water to the village residents since at least May 2010.” Last week’s meeting was apparently no exception. Berger complained afterwards that Brescia had been “very testy and hastily adjourned the meeting after only nine minutes.” Brescia said the award was bestowed by the Orange County Department of Health. Village of Montgomery Water Superintendent Buddy Nelson produced an email from the OCDOH to confirm the award. “Congratulations for being chosen as having the ‘Best Drinking Water in Orange County’ on June 6, 2017, and on being selected to represent Orange County in the New York State Regional Drinking Water contest which is expected to be held in August” wrote Steve Gagnon, senior health engineer for the OCDOH. “Your interest and concern in providing Continued on page 4 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL