HORTONVILLE - Construction of a new town highway barn, land purchases, acquiring a water company and installing a new railroad crossing in Callicoon are just a few of the items which will get attention from the Delaware Town Board in 2018.

As the board studied a timeline for taking over the 100-year-old Callicoon Water Co., they knew just how busy Delaware Engineering was going to be in helping them achieve their goals.

Engineer Bill Brown of Delaware Engineering was at Wednesday's meeting to update the town board on a variety of projects.

“We need to move forward with the [Callicoon Water] district formation,” Brown said. “The user fee for the [existing] Callicoon Water Co. just covers operation and maintenence.

“The new fee will now include all the upgrades,” he said.

With projected costs now finalized, Delaware Engineering and town officials can now determine how much the rates need to be increased for the 128 users to pay for the upgrades to the system.

Figures will be completed by the end of the month and the public should be able to see them at next month's meeting.

The board also voted to begin a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) of the water district project for the New York State DEC.

Brown felt the review would be somewhat routine as no new ground was being broken - only replacing and improving existing infra­­struc­ture.

Supervisor Ed Sykes also received the go-ahead from the board to talk with the Delaware Youth Center about purchasing property around the existing Callicoon Water Company's well house.

“It houses our well head and needs to be protected,” he said. “I would like to have a little buffer.”

Delaware Engineering is also going to be involved with work on the new highway barn on Route 17B. A recent state grant will help pay for the salt shed and plans for the highway barn are being discussed.

Building Inspector Jim McElroy said the town issued 104 building permits in 2017 - a 12 percent increase.

“We closed on 58 permits and 91 are still active,” he said. “Revenue is up - and that's with lower permit fees.”

McElroy and Delaware Engineering will start its first inspection of the Delaware River Solar park on Baer Rd. today - weather permitting.

The town board also voted to allow Sykes to speak with Isaac Levy, owner of the former Delaware Campgrounds, about the purchase of 3 1/2 acres to construct a new sewer plant, to replace the existing one, which is 28 years old.

“I've received a lot of compliments on snow removal,” Sykes said. “And about the condition of our roads.”

“Me too,” said Councilman John Gain.

“Let's give credit where credit it due,” Councilman Al Steppich said. “The highway department is doing an excellent job.”

Highway Superintendent Bill Eschenberg credited his men for the fine job and said their hard work paid off during the recent storms.

“They really kept our roads safe and cleaned them up as fast as they could,” he said.