City authorities again say they will not sell the plant | News, Sports, Vacancies

Dunkirk Common Councilwoman Nancy Nichols demanded unequivocal assurances from Mayor Kate Vdovias’ administration at Tuesday’s council meeting that the city’s water treatment plant is not for sale. At left is Councilman James Stoyle.

City of Dunkirk officials reiterated at the Common Council meeting that the water treatment plant is not for sale.

“It’s not for sale. It will never be offered for sale as long as the city of Dunkirk is included.” said Mayor Kate Vdovias.

“I’ll put an exclamation point after the mayor’s great statement,” said Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury.

Vdovias and Woodbury spoke Tuesday in response to Councilwoman Nancy Nichols’ statement. Nichols said she strongly opposes the sale of the water treatment plant and has requested and received unequivocal statements on the matter from the city administration. Woodbury made similar statements at a North County Water District board meeting last week.

The proposal to sell the city’s power plant to the water district was recently made by Terry Kniebel, an NCWD board member and county legislator. Niebel believed this would provide the financially troubled city with a much-needed infusion of money.

Nichols was clearly irritated by an OBSERVER editorial that criticized the city for refusing to consider selling the water treatment plant.

“People who don’t know what they’re talking about shouldn’t start talking and typing anything,” she said. “We don’t need to (look) like we’re being made fools. We are not being fooled. We look at the big picture and approach it very realistically.”

While initially expressing sadness over the recent passing of Niebel’s wife, Woodbury subsequently noted that the city’s water supply system involves more elements than the wastewater treatment plant on Lake Shore Drive.

“Our water system is just that, a system.” – he said. “You can’t just buy a plant. There are pipes, tanks, underground pipes, pumping stations. It’s huge… It’s a lot bigger than you think.”