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Um, they're currently at my at the printers um, getting ready to go to the post office. Included in that in that data inventory mailer what is an instruction sheet and or information sheet on what the what the project is, why we're doing it, as well as how to respond to if you find anything in error. Also included in it are um the information regarding our upcoming public information meetings. So, we're going to be holding three public information meetings. Start The first one will be next Saturday and then the following Tuesday, so the 13th and the 16th. The 16th we'll be holding two, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

Information on those >> later that evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the rec center. >> Correct. >> So, that gives opportunities on the weekend, during the day, and at night to be able to come in and engage directly with Robert and the um the staff of the assessment office to answer any questions that you might have. >> And I'll have I'll have a presentation at that all of those that will be the same for each one of those sessions. >> Are those dates and times in the slide deck or online? I think I got them down. >> They're online. They're They're on uh flyers that are all over the town hall and um at the end of my email, anybody who's emailing the office or me, there's a link that's underneath my signature to take you there.

>> Just got to keep breathing. Okay. >> Yeah. >> And that And that information is also included in the data mailer that will be going to property owners. >> It is. >> Okay. Once the data mailer goes out, how long does the property owner have to provide the corrections and the requested information? >> We'd really like it by I'd say the middle of August at the latest. >> Was that noted in the mailer? >> I think that piece of data was left out. We're trying to keep it to a single page. We actually have a hybrid response. So, this is this is unique. I don't know of any other town, do you Robert, of anyone who has presented that this way.

So, you can return that by paper, put it in the mail, give it back to our office. You can drop it off by walking into the town hall and dropping it off at our office. You can use the QR code that is found on that letter to take you to the town's Beacon website, where there is an electronic feedback form. You would find your property and then click on that form you want to give some feedback to and say, "No, we don't have two and a half baths. We converted to three." We would love to know that. More I more suspect you're going to say, "No, we don't have two and a half baths. There's only two." But, either way, feed feedback is is very key to this part of the project because what we're trying to do is make sure we have the right information before we go through the process of creating a value for each and every property.

So, there there's electronic means, there is paper means, there's foot traffic, there's telephone calls. Call the number at the top. There's a special project hotline, which will ring at the KLW office at the beginning. We'll be managing the foot traffic and the paper traffic and and Robert's team will be handling our telephone calls, which will be more of a generic answer. So, >> Somebody already asked if it's on our website, correct? >> It is. Do you want me to show you? Can I get to the website from here? >> And then I think before we talked about it, maybe like I can't remember 5 or 10% of people reply, something like that.

>> Yeah, something like that. >> so what happens when people don't reply? >> [snorts] >> Then we then we're going to utilize the information that we have on file to as being correct and to develop our values. >> So, one of the things that we get asked a lot, if anybody's going to be going into homes to verify the correct information. >> not be. So, that this is the data mailer is going out and now we're planning on doing our field review. And what we're going to do is I'm going to have teams of appraisers and assistants driving around town and reviewing all the property all the properties in the town of Webster from the public right-of-way only.

>> And do you have an example of what the data mailer looks like? >> I do not. >> I do. I don't know how to run this particular thing. Rhea, can you help me get to that? >> It's right on the very end on the left property value data verification data. >> Well, I was coming here to show you you want which which was it the first question I was going to the website to look up the link or >> The link to verify the property data. I think it's that one on the left. >> Yeah, that yes, this is the link. >> Yes. >> Yep, and it'll take you here. You would look up your property address and then scroll to the bottom there's a feedback form.

You click on that feedback button and it will take you to a form to tell us what data it is you would like us to change. Perhaps you think we have the square footage of your house wrong. So, to answer the question about going inside the house, some of these some of the questions and things that people might want to change might require an interior inspection in order to verify that information. For the most part it'll just be a conversation on the email or a telephone Please put your phone number in there. It's a little bit faster sometimes to have a conversation than lots of emails back and forth.

Um and then if I could get to the dates. Bridget would know where those are. >> Oh. >> But it's not there. It's back Back page? They're down here? >> Yes, right there. >> Do you want all of them? >> Yeah, these three. >> Okay. And then how do I get to the >> And another another thing if when you're on this here, Bridget set up a special email list so property owners can sign up to get notification of the process as we move forward. >> So that that postcard did that go out? >> Yes, so one email has gone out so far. We'll be sending two additional ones. And then it was also two emails. >> Right.

>> I put out three other documents. Okay. >> All right, so it appears that I don't have a sample of the letter available to you. I thought I put it in the folder, but don't know where it is. Apologize for that. >> I If you want, I can forward all of you an email um of the of that cover letter. >> That'd be great. >> Yeah. >> I mean, all five of us will be receiving that data mailer next week anyway. >> Yes. >> [laughter] >> But if you want it if you want it in advance, I can I can actually mail that cover letter to you. >> I'll wait. >> I'm good. Thanks. >> I got the anticipation is what makes it worth it.

>> So then after the the meetings in mid-June, then there'll be a little bit of a lag till the next public facing step? >> Yes. Yes. >> And you guys kind of work on everything behind the scenes of that. >> We have a lot We have a lot of work to do between June and the end of the year, so. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it will be all that information will come back. We'll process the information that people are telling us about, and then Robert and his team will be out in the field looking at the properties from the right-of-way. So, that's going to take all summer and into the early part of the fall. And about September or so, you're going to be generating some values behind the scenes that our office then has to review.

So, the next time that we will be here announcing more public interaction will be around the February 2027 time frame. >> Correct. >> Which would be the phase in which we would let be prepared to have letters go out to all the homeowners again, and that would to announce what the new values would be for the assessed values and what to do about questions about that part of the process. >> How do you determine which properties that you go to? Is there a methodology behind that? >> I'm sorry. >> You're going to inspect properties. >> Correct. >> How do you determine which properties that you're going to visit?

>> All of them. >> Really? In the town, in the village, every property? >> All of them. >> What is >> 17,000. 17,000. Whatever you can see from the right-of-way. >> team? >> Hopefully enough. >> [laughter] >> That's why it takes months and months and months. This is why [clears throat] it's going to take a few months, but yes, part of part [laughter] of our part of our contract with with KLW was to verify from the public right-of-way all the data that we have collected. >> Wow. >> So, he'll be he's not going to be measuring houses. They're not going to get out of the car. They may take photographs.

We will know where they are. I would like to say at all times, but they're a moving target. So, we'll we'll know what part of the town that they'll be in. >> Trackers. >> If people Pardon me? >> GPS trackers. >> Yeah. Will you let us do that? >> No. >> [laughter] >> No. >> I better not see you at the Village Bakery. So, what type of information given the the magnitude of of the amount of houses that you have to go to, you can't I mean you can't spend much time there at all. >> It does It doesn't take that long. I mean we're we're really looking at because we're we're not verifying if they they have three ba- you know, two bathrooms or not, right?

We're looking at the Is the siding wood or has it been changed to vinyl? What's the overall condition? Has it been updated? Shoot a couple photos and then move on. It's a It's a very quick process, but we've been doing this for a number of years. Um my team, you know, we we done a number of projects like this, right? >> Uh-huh. >> It's not your first rodeo. >> No. No. >> Okay. >> So really like the big stuff at that point, like okay, there's a huge addition. >> Right. If we If we see something that, you know, we have, you know, 1,000 sq ft ranch and it's a two-story house, well, you know, obviously that we got to investigate that further.

You know, things like that. >> So you're only looking from at homes from the right-of-way. Are you also going to be leveraging aerial imagery to look you know, from the top down, look at the roof condition, look for additions in the back, pools, etc. >> We do We do have aerial photography, yes. >> But are you using it or you just like >> We're using it. We're utilizing it. >> Okay. >> Presently >> We're also in the in the process of Currently, the what's called the PRC, property record card of each property, is a hand is handwritten um card with a handwritten sketch. We're in the process of converting those sketches into digital, in which which time we're Now, we are reviewing you know, the aero aerial photography and the sketch does it does the you know, the perimeter of the building look like the sketch.

Um so that we're we're kind of we're doing that now. >> Right. As you can see on the slide in front of you, they've been doing that since July. So we're sending out the information that we have on a scan. Um what we already have digitized, they don't need to digitize, but we send them everything we have, so but will have our entire file at some point. Those sketches that are not digitized, they are digitizing them, sending them back, and they're being QC'd by our appraiser right now. So, by the time that they get out in the field, those sketches should be done and they'll have them with them. And so, we are looking them We are looking at them from the sky, they're looking at them from the sky in order to prepare those digital sketches.

>> And then, with the Jennifer point you raised, are you using drones then? >> No. >> Okay. Just satellite images? >> Just satellite No, well >> Well, that there's a map and there's the aerial inventory that they have, which is fixed-wing aerial inventory. >> but it's not like we have residents that'll be like, "Why is there a drone above my house?" >> No drones. >> No. No drones. >> This has already been done. >> Yeah. Okay, thank you. I just want to clarify. >> Yes, Frank, I think the flights took place in April and May. At least I know about [clears throat] May. I don't know about the other one, but I know about May.

>> Any other questions? >> A comment that I as the liaison to assessing, I just want to thank Donna, Robert, Bridget, um for all of the work they've done, Tom as well when he was the supervisor, cuz this project really started with education over a year ago. So, there has been a ton of community sessions, there and and we've had some pretty good participation in those sessions as well. And um the the hope is with all of the communications in the Webster today, with those community sessions, the updates in town board meetings and town board workshops, I'm sure there'll be some surprises somewhere, but we're really hoping to um minimize the surprise when the letter comes in February or March time frame >> March.

>> with the new values. So, it's it might seem a little shocking knowing what's happening in the market. Um but we've we've talked about this on multiple occasions um at the highest level. When you get that letter and your house is double in value what it used to be now it could be double in value >> or more. >> or more not to be in shock. >> Mhm. >> There's there's a process and your taxes are not going to double because we are not going to double our budget for the town in a matter of 12 months. >> Yeah. And there will be more events. So, watch our website. Um pay attention to the town board agendas.

We'll be back. Robert will be back. And thank you for coming. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Up next, we have uh Bob Wimmer and Rick Neely, uh wastewater treatment plant chief operator, and Bob is of Novatek to discuss the renewable natural gas project. >> [snorts] >> Which for those in attendance, uh we recently were told this week that RG&E has upped the amount in their tap agreement for the annual operations and maintenance costs from $15,000 a year to $100,000 a year. So, >> And is that public knowledge now? >> Yeah. >> I guess. >> Yeah. They sent out the email to um Rick and Bob got it yesterday and along with us and I understand that other uh the other utilities may follow suit going into RNG projects.

From what happened is that there was a issue at one facility. Uh the producer did not produce quality gas. RG&E got hit with the by the regulations. So, they're looking to add more assurances as they not look to not engage so well with this project. So >> So we would say as far as >> I don't think RG&E is a viable option at this point. >> Okay, so my question was going to be a little different. >> Yeah, but let's let them get on with this get their presentation and we can discuss after. >> All right. >> Uh thank you very much. So and I'll add some additional information that was gathered also today relative to that.

Um so Uh just uh some refresher from some previous workshops that have been uh provided here um at the uh uh wastewater treatment Uh the wastewater treatment produces what's called digester gas. Uh so this is a byproduct of the treatment process. Uh it's the conversion of the solid material that's left over after uh wastewater treatment uh along with uh high strength organic waste uh such as waste from various food production facilities including the Fairlife facility. Um it's a high energy uh gas that's about 60 to 70% methane. Uh methane is uh the uh component that's in natural gas uh that is provided to homes for for heating and cooking.

Uh also in that digester gas is water vapor uh and then carbon dioxide. Uh so it's primarily uh uh methane but also with some water and carbon dioxide. Um currently at the facility uh that digester gas is uh is consumed and burnt in a uh boiler. Uh that boiler provides heat uh in the winter to uh one of the buildings on the campus. And also year-round it heats the anaerobic digester uh which is necessary to maintain the biological population uh that that works within the uh within the digester. Uh this [clears throat] reduces the overall operating cost for the facility. Uh facility does not have to buy natural gas uh from RG&E uh to heat the building or the digester.

So that's about 45 47% of the gas that is produced. The remainder of the gas is combusted in a flare. So this is both a regulatory and a safety mechanism for getting rid of any of the excess gas that cannot be consumed in the in the boiler. So natural gas which I mentioned is currently in this area distributed by RG&E. Natural gas is 100% methane. It's primarily produced and distributed by RG&E. It's a fossil fuel underground deposit of natural gas that is that is produced throughout the United States and then distributed. However, digester gas can be upgraded into a gas of the exact same quality that is distributed by RG&E.

So this is the ability to take a waste product and turn it into a valuable resource that can offset fossil fuels. So in terms of how the process works, so the raw biogas is produced by the digesters. And then there is a system that can be added to the facility. The first step is the removal of water. So the the gas has water vapor in it and it needs to be completely dry in order to be utilized within the RG&E system. Next is any contaminants in the gas are removed. This is primarily hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic compounds. So these are removed through an activated carbon process. The final step of removal is the removal of the the So this is done in a membrane separation process.

So, the larger molecules are removed and the smaller molecules of methane move through the process. And then that gas is tested to ensure that it meets the quality that is required by RG&E to be utilized throughout the system. If necessary, some additional fuel in the in the form of propane is added to make sure that the the gas is of appropriate quality. And then it's ready to be RNG is ready to be utilized within the RG&E distribution system. Uh in terms of what that facility looks like, it's a a series of containers. So, this is a first step of the moisture removal. Then we had that contaminant removal step here.

Then into the container which contains the compression and the membrane system and then finally injected into the system. So, over the process of the last 5 months or so, Navitas and our partners and working with Rick and his staff have been evaluating different suppliers and vendors of the equipment and looking at how the system could be incorporated at the wastewater treatment plant. So, in terms of the value of the gas, um uh the value of the gas is not only what we call the commodity value or what you would buy the RG&E what you would buy gas from RG&E, but because this gas is produced from organic waste, it offsets potential contaminants in the atmosphere.

So, either carbon dioxide or the release of methane into the atmosphere. And because it is ultimately combusted in the same way that natural gas is combusted, you're taking a source that is is produced from a waste product and turning it in and offsetting natural gas that would be pulled out of the out of the ground. So, these areas, this reduction of CO2, this reduction of methane release, and this offsetting of natural gas, all provide additional value to the gas above and beyond just its ability to be to be burnt for heating or or cooking. So, in terms of how that's measured, it is what what is done is what's called a carbon intensity score.

And in the carbon intensity score, you're looking for the most negative value you can possibly get. We did a analysis of the process at the wastewater treatment plant through one of the models that is utilized within the industry, came up with a carbon intensity score of -22. So, what this means is that the production of the renewable natural gas at the wastewater treatment plant produces less carbon than it takes to to make it. So, it's basically reducing a portion of the carbon within the overall atmosphere. So, just as a relative comparison, the Webster wastewater treatment plant has a -22 carbon intensity score.

A landfill, where landfill gas is collected and then converted into renewable natural gas, actually has a positive score. So, this is better than a landfill. A dairy digester, or where you're taking and and collecting methane from a dairy farm, that's the best possible solution out there. That has a -150 to -250. So, in the uh, market that's out there, um, as you've, uh, maybe as you've traveled or you've, uh, worked on, uh, looked at different websites, uh, you may have seen opportunities where it says, "Would you like to offset your CO2 impact or your greenhouse gas impact?" Uh, maybe renting a car, taking a flight.

Uh, these are places where, uh, that, uh, carbon offset occurs. So, these are opportunities for, uh, individuals or corporations that want to reduce their carbon intensity, uh, to pay to offset that to allow these projects to go forward. So, again, the more negative the better and, uh, the, uh, Webster has a a negative score. Uh, in terms of, uh, what this potentially means in terms of the value of the gas, um, the projected annual production, uh, out there is about 29,000 MMBTU per year. So, if you equate that to, uh, household use, that's about 300 households of, uh, natural gas use here in the, uh, Webster area in this climate or about, you know, 1.5% of the households, uh, could be offset, uh, by the activities at the wastewater treatment plant.

Um, these environmental attributes or that offset of the carbon has value within, uh, and within the, uh, economy. Uh, so, corporations and individuals, uh, would pay somewhere between 10 and 17 dollars, uh, per MMBTU. Uh, so, that provides a potential revenue, uh, to the town of 290, uh, to about 493,000 dollars in in annual revenue. Now, of course, my dad taught me very early on in life that nothing in life is free. Uh, so, everything has a cost. So, while this this revenue is there, there are costs associated with getting to this point. Um, so, part of the process is uh, we need to take this new gas that's produced and get it to the consumers.

So, the first and primary option that we have been working with over the past couple months has been connecting to the RG&E gas distribution system. There is a gas main on the plant access road. This has been updated in the last 24 hours. We've RG&E has come back to us with new costs that the supervisor had just mentioned. The CapEx cost has increased from 1.2 to about 1.6 million dollars. So, about a $400,000 increase in that. And they have also increased by $85,000 their annual O&M cost. So, this had a low operating cost, but it has been impacted recently by some new information that came from from RG&E.

RG&E would construct the facilities, they would operate them, and then the town would have to produce gas with within the quality requirements that has to be produced there. So, knowing that we had some issues with RG&E in terms of working with with them as a partner. We've also been looking at some other options. One of which is to instead of connecting directly into RG&E system is to take the gas and place it onto the equivalent of a tanker truck. So, it's called a tube truck. So, the gas is compressed. And then it can be transported to different locations and therefore is not tied to the RG&E distribution system.

The capital cost is less. However, there is uh higher operating costs uh both for the leasing of the the tankers and uh the transportation and fuel associated with moving the tankers around. Um we're just very early in uh determining uh the cost of this as this uh just came out very recently, uh but we are looking at whether or not this is a a viable alternative uh to go into RG&E. Um the third option is to uh cut RG&E out of the system [clears throat] completely uh and have a uh a third-party come in and manage that so that RG&E is not part of the system. Um the current size of the system does not align with uh with people who would take over as a a third-party owner.

So, it would require uh significantly increasing the amount of gas produced out there. And unfortunately, that would negate a uh a tax credit federal grant uh that has been evaluated as part of the project. Uh so, we are running this to ground, uh but it is unlikely to be uh financially viable. Um so, these operating costs you can consider to be uh preliminary and uh currently uh under uh where they should be uh due to the >> Off of option one. >> Off of option one, off of the uh injection into the RG&E system. Uh so, the previous total of 184,000 is uh now closer to uh 270,000. Uh which uh reduces the net uh potential revenue uh to just a slightly above positive uh to about uh 200,000.

Um we will get the updated numbers incorporated into the final slide deck that gets distributed uh after the the workshop. Um in In of the cost of the capital uh to put the facility in, uh it runs uh uh total of uh right now a little over uh 8 and 1/2 million dollars with the additional RG&E uh costs that have been come in. Uh so it includes also some uh previous tax consulting work that's been done, uh the design fees, uh along with the equipment and the installation for that. This slide will also be updated as part of the final package uh when distributed. Now one of the reasons that uh this evaluation is being conducted now um when the project initially started um we evaluated whether or not it made any sense to utilize the digester gas and convert it into some sort of beneficial use.

At that point um it was not financially viable um and uh so it was not included in the original project scope. Um shortly after the project started um a the Inflation Reduction Act um was passed, which had a uh a section called the Clean Energy Tax Credit, um which is a tax credit uh that uh is applied to facilities that produce uh fuel such as renewable natural gas. And for the first time um this tax credit can be granted to uh non-tax-paying entities such as municipalities. Uh so instead of as a tax credit against taxes owed, uh it can be distributed as a grant uh to uh municipalities that don't uh pay taxes.

Uh some of the sections of this Inflation Reduction Act were updated in the uh one big beautiful bill uh in uh last July. Um however, the uh tax credits relative to the RNG and to uh some other elements of this uh were preserved. So at this at this time, all those tax credits are still viable. Um the town has uh over the past uh 6-8 months uh utilized two tax consultants uh with them and MSC Consulting uh to determine whether or not the town is eligible for this tax credit. Uh both firms have determined that the project qualifies uh and that Webster can file for that credit uh as soon as they begin producing the renewable natural gas.

Um one of the nice portions of this uh tax credit is that it's uh retroactive to a lot of the other projects that have already been completed on the project on the site. Um so uh the tax firms have determined that uh somewhere between 6.8 million and 8 million dollars would could be returned to the town in in uh in the form of a tax credit or grant uh if the project uh were to go forward. Uh which greatly would reduce the overall uh capital cost of the project. Um Paul, you want to step in here? >> Sure, I'll step in and cover this slide. Uh as Bob mentioned, we did hire uh MSC Consulting uh to take a look at the situation.

They evaluated uh the eligibility the costs that are eligible for the credit and they took took a look at the IRS 80/20 rule. Uh they did determine that 26,700,000 dollars of the project is eligible for the credit. Uh that's a 30% credit. Um they also determined that the project uh does qualify in accordance with the 80/20 rule regulations. Uh they they took a look at a lower bound uh measure, which is about a million dollars, and an upper bound measure of about 6 million. Um and it qualified in both cases. Uh as Bob said, the credit is estimated to range between 6.8 and 8 million dollars. Uh Uh some of this will depend on the reduction.

Uh when you finance a project with municipal bonds, uh the credit is actually reduced by 15%. So, that's the main reason for the difference between the 6.8 million and the 8 million dollar credit. Um I did a payback calculation. I used the uh net revenue from the sale of the gas. So, that was the market price of the natural gas less the expense um approximate that are subject to change. credit is about 10 years to 20 Uh the payback could be as quick as 2.90 with the long-term revenue we're going to be. >> Um developing the project guarantee agreement agreement agreement, uh which will tie into where the gas ultimately ends up going, and then completing the final project scope and amendments.

Um >> [clears throat] >> The next steps uh determining how things progress um the seeker process is still open and needs to have a a final vote by the by the board. Uh we need to determine where the RNG is going to get injected, whether to RG&E or to one of the alternate final approaches, continue to assemble the final project price information. Um because the project would increase the overall price of the project. Um Paul has indicated that there would be a another bond resolution amendment that would be necessary to show the total price of the project and then get through all the the final contract details uh before it could be approved.

Um >> Let me just say the bond resolution will increase the maximum spend of the project. It won't increase the amount that we borrow. >> Yep. Um and then the finally the the key dates and critical decisions that have to be done. Again, the the seeker has to be done prior to the the bond resolution uh just from a municipal law standpoint. Uh the bond resolution has to be done prior to the contract approval. So, those steps have to occur. Uh really, it's the RNG injection approach and approach to to get the final economics uh that need to be done. And then uh once the project starts, uh this equipment has a rather long manufacturing time uh currently listed at uh 56 weeks.

Uh so, uh getting the equipment ordered in order to allow it to be installed and allow uh Webster to start uh potentially making gas uh going forward. Um I'd say at this point uh these dates uh probably are not valid uh with the new information that has come in. So, I'm just going to basically skip this slide. Uh but in terms of the overall uh process uh absent the dates, uh the steps do involve the final price, uh resolution for the uh the bond resolution, uh the resolution of the contract, and then uh about um uh 15 months uh for uh ordering the equipment and installation of the equipment. So.

With that, I'm sure there's a bunch of questions. >> [snorts] >> So, I I just want to um I don't think there's anyone on this board that is in favor of moving forward with the RNG contract. I could be wrong, but And and and in my opinion is that you know, we should kill the RG&E product or not the RG&E contract um by simple majority vote with a motion going forward um because my concern I've been against this project since day one. And then we agreed to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on engineering. And subsequent to that agreement we were presented with the RG&E contract which opens the town of Webster to significant liabilities.

And then they have an RG&E issue on a different site. There'll be no redlining on this contract. And now they want additional monies. So I would just request if each board member would address the their feelings on the RG&E contract. Are you for or against? >> Uh with the new updates, I'm wholly against the RG&E contract as it stands at this point. >> Thanks. >> Nick. >> I I I'm sorry. >> Oh, I said I simply >> Mhm. >> But we got a little bit of feedback. >> Correct. >> So, here we are. We're at this point, and it just doesn't seem viable to me. >> I do have one question on the proposal. presentation.

>> Yes. >> So, it's great that the gas that is being produced is not being wasted. About 50% of it is being used >> Yes. >> inside of the plant. So, this isn't all for like it's not all for nothing. But, one of the um data points in your presentation was that this gas could power or support 300 households. Is it 300 households for 50% of the gas or 300 households for all of the gas if we weren't using it at the wastewater treatment plant? >> It's 300 households for the part that you're not utilizing at the wastewater treatment plant. So, that that's 53 odd percent. >> Now, if if we were to cut ties on the project now versus 2 weeks from now, would that be an impact in dollar amounts?

>> No. So, this morning uh with the new information and uh I stopped all work on the project this morning. Uh so, there is no activity going on in the project. Um Navitas is here on a uh this is our our business development budget. So, I we're not charging the town uh for this work uh that we're doing. So, I'm you know, my my work and any work I would do over the next 2 weeks uh would not impact any of the uh the remaining fees that are that are would be owed back to the town if they so choose. >> And would you be able to get the tube truck all of the data within 2 weeks? >> So, within 2 weeks uh we can run to ground the tube truck and some other alternatives uh that uh we're looking at uh to try and see if there's a means of uh securing the tax credit uh without having to deal with RG&E and still making the project overall viable.

>> [clears throat] >> Yeah, and that's just the part that's unfortunate that we didn't do that 6 12 months ago. Like in hindsight to be We knew the risks were there. We knew there's problems with this contract. We could have been ahead of this to find a solution. Jennifer, to your point, like whether it's powering houses, we could have looked at setting the gas to fair life. We could have looked to use it in different town buildings, powering some town vehicles with it. There's a number of alternatives we could have looked into, but now we're kind of late, and we don't have as much time. >> I And part of it was the timeline.

Uh cuz this came to the board in December of 2025. And the whole notion of needing to make a decision very quickly at that time, like we needed to make the decision then, was to have continuity in the project. And now we're 6 months down the line, and we're still trying to figure those things out. So, at some point, we risk the continuity to the project as well, I would think. >> Yes, if the if the project does not uh perform work in 2027, uh then the continuity of the project would be broken, and therefore the tax credit would no longer be viable. >> So, there's there's there's risk there as well because of the lead time for ordering equipment and how long these projects take.

>> As long as the As long as the equipment is on on order, uh then you're maintaining the continuity, uh but you couldn't go through uh you know, most of '27 without having activity. >> Yes. >> So, well, I I appreciate um supervisor's question with respect to um how much money will be left. >> Yes. >> And your response that you have stopped >> Yes. >> working. So, seems to me the only alternative would be the tube trucks. >> There are some other alternatives that are out there that we're trying to run to ground. >> Okay, I haven't heard any of those. >> I >> In the last 24 hours, we, you know, not throwing the proverbial spaghetti at the wall, uh, but we've been going through all the alternatives that you wouldn't normally, uh, see are viable, uh, just to see if they're viable.

So. >> So, I I on our call uh, earlier this week >> Yep. >> with respect to the tube trucks, the first thing that you were going that we agreed you were going to look into was the staging >> Yes. >> the ability to stage there, the ability to turn, and the proximity that is required for the staging of the trucks to the to the buildings. >> Yes. >> Have you made any ground with that? >> Yes, we have confirmed that, uh, the tube trucks have the room to turn around, and we have the area available, uh, to park the trucks and to load the trucks, uh, without any impacting any of the existing structures.

>> Okay, thank you. And again, you're confident you can get the information we would need to make a decision on this in 2 weeks. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I mean, we'll see. It's It's been It's been slow at times. >> I understand. >> But I think if we take a step back, like, if we have a short time frame, it means we need to come together and work together as a board to address this >> Mhm. >> collectively, which means as John said reply to emails, have communications, have these discussions so we can move it forward. If we don't have to talk as a board on these issues, we might as well not move forward.

It's going to require us communicating and having discussions. >> 100% >> This is a big project, and we do not want to be the board that rushes this and has it fall apart while we're here. >> No, but I would ask that any questions, Bob, when do you What's your turnaround time for answering questions in terms of costs and stuff? I know the sooner the better, but >> In terms of how quickly I can answer them, or >> Roughly, basically in terms of like, what is this additional cost going to be? What's this? You know, I know we discussed that during the call with Rev LNG, John had asked if there'd be additional engineering costs and you had stated no.

>> That's correct. >> Um but like if we have additional questions like that, can you give us priority for turnaround times on this? >> Okay. >> I guess the point that um Correct me if I'm wrong, but we'd like to make a decision on this entire project at the like next board meeting. >> 100%. >> Yes. >> I would like us to absolutely have the finality of this next next >> So to Garrett's point, it's going to take a lot of communication, open communication and dialogue between the board members between now and the next board meeting. And it's going to be um on your plate to provide us with the information not only for the alternatives that you're looking at, but more importantly um the two truck >> Yes.

>> information, cost, projected revenue, all that. And hopefully we'd have that prior to the day before the board meeting. >> No, agree completely. >> Yeah, cuz it >> Which is because it just seems that a lot of the information that's come out on this No offense, it just seems some of it has been slow walked and I don't know whether that's your fault, the vendor's issue, but I just go back to this whole RG&E thing. Because if anybody in the town wants to read that contract, they can foil for it, go through the entire 30 days. >> They actually can't foil for it because it is in the need How did you describe it?

It's in a group >> It's an actively negotiated contract. However, the contract that is presented is still available on RG&E. >> Yeah, I I pulled I pulled it right off the RG&E website. So it's it's it's there. >> Mhm. It's a very exciting read for anybody that's thinking about checking it out. >> [laughter] >> Super fun. >> I I read it three times, too. >> Yeah. >> So. All right, that's all I have. >> I got nothing else. Nicholas? >> I had a lot of questions. We used up a lot of time, so I'll I'll save that. I do want to ask, is there any world to negotiate with RG&E on those maintenance costs?

>> Uh unfortunately, no. Um the additional information I was going to mention, it there is one developer within New York who has put in subpar systems, and they've actually had three systems that have failed uh over the course of the last 2 years. Uh so because of that, um RG&E has increased the infrastructure in their system, and with that, they've added this additional uh O&M cost. So, uh the other developers who are out there trying to put these projects together are also have all been hit this week uh with this change in operating costs and capital costs, so everybody is reevaluating projects right now.

>> Do we ask? >> All right, thank you. >> Yep. >> Jim? >> Anything? >> No, I appreciate the update. It's a lot to take in. We have a lot to do over the next 2 weeks, for sure. >> Okay, you got it, Bob. Safe travels. >> Thanks. >> All right, thank you. Uh with that, we will conclude the Town Board Workshop of June 4th, 2026. Uh it is currently 7:25, so we'll be back in about 5 minutes um with the Town Board