By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

CANAJOHARIE — During Tuesday’s Village Board of Canajoharie meeting, the board discussed, with Waste Water Treatment Plant Manager Jerry Ward, plant statistics and options in the absence of Beech-Nut.

Ward noted that once Beech-Nut ramped down production in March, 2011, half of the plant was shut down, including vibrating screens, the Beech-Nut pump station, and secondary aeration.

The plant, said Ward, is currently permitted 2.8 million gallons of flow per day, although it’s only processing 250,000 gallons on an average day — 10 percent of permitted usage.

Richardson Brands’ operations account for about 80 percent of the current usage.

Trustee Ronald Dievendorf wondered what percent Richardson Brands uses in proportion to what they pay, and was informed by Ward that the company is responsible for about 30 percent of the revenue coming into the plant.

“That’s a substantial difference between use and payment,” commented Dievendorf.

The problem is, said Ward, that the plant is designed so that it’s necessary to run the 50 percent that is currently in operation. Although every cost cutting measure possible has been taken, the plant cannot be further downsized without spending substantial money.

In making steps to rectify the situation, Ward said that he’s contacted McDonald Engineering and is looking into updating the sewer law and structure in an attempt to make sure that the process by which payments are made is fair for both homeowners and Richardson Brands.

Ward said that he’s also working on securing grant funding, although the amount he was hoping to secure was recently reduced by half.

He noted that he’s still looking to secure a $600,000 grant, although it will take time. He also said that the fund balance used to offset the money coming in so far in the current budget is in the neighborhood of $490,000.

“The fund balance will not last forever,” he stated.