By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

FORT PLAIN — During the monthly meeting of the Fort Plain Village Board of Trustees, Mayor Guy Barton provided an update on the status of the Clinton Avenue Extension repair project, noting that after reviewing the road’s condition, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and SEMA (New York State Emergency Management Agency) declared its rapid, continued deterioration an “emergency situation.”

The road, which travels up Prospect Hill, has been closed since fall, 2011, as the structural integrity of the steep bank overlooking the Otsquago Creek continues to decline, causing the road, guardrails and sewage line to collapse and slope.

McDonald Engineering provided a detailed report to the village, stating that the repair project would require cutting into the side of the hill a substantial amount. A new road would be placed there eight feet to the right of the existing one. As part of the project, which is estimated at $244,140, steel reinforcement beams would be installed in the hill. New guardrails and new footings will also be put in position. A new sewer line will also be installed, as the current one has slid with the hill.

The project will go out to emergency bid in the near future. Because the project has been declared an emergency, the village is able to bypass the 14 day federal requirement to go out for bids.

Barton said he was informed that the project should be complete by August 31.

The village has to front the cost of the project, but they will receive back the funding from FEMA and SEMA, who have assured Barton that the money will be returned to the village expediently. Barton said the village plans to borrow money for the project.

Barton stated, “the village of Fort Plain are sincere in their goal to make things better for the people of Fort Plain.”

Also discussed at the meeting was the village’s recent application for another $400,000 New York State Community Development Block Grant. If the village receives the 100 percent grant, it will go toward village home rehabilitation.

With the last grant the village was awarded in the amount of $400,000, they were able to fund repair and improvement projects in 19 local homes — three more than their original goal of 16.

Applications for low-to-moderate income homeowners are currently available at the village office. The application deadline is August 17.

There will also be two public hearings regarding the grant application prior to the August 17 application deadline, the first scheduled for July 17 at 6:50 p.m., ten minutes prior to the regular village meeting. A second meeting will take place the last week of July or first week of August, said Barton.

Barton said the village expects to be informed whether they received the grant sometime in September.