LOUISVILLE - Earlier this year, the town of Louisville received a $90,000 grant from the River Valley Redevelopment Association to install two pellet stoves at its municipal building.

Last week the board awarded the project to Merkley Brothers Heating and Cooling, Heuvelton. However, their bid, the only one received, came in at $110,000 - $10,000 more than expected.

“We could go to the RVRDA and tell them we got our bid and it was overbid by $10,000,” according to Town Supervisor Larry R. Legault, who said he would attend the RVRDA’s next meeting on Aug. 21 to ask for the additional funding.

“We’re still willing to pay our 10 percent match, but our 10 percent now will be $11,000 instead of $10,000,” Councilman Daniel O’Keefe said. “If we don’t get additional funding, we’re on the hook for $20,000 instead of $10,000.”

“There will definitely be savings, especially with the price of fuel oil,” Mr. Legault said.

Councilwoman M. Gail Schneider asked what kind of savings the town could expect to see after having the pellet stoves installed. Mr. O’Keefe replied the savings would be approximately $10,000 per year.

After hearing that ,Ms. Schneider recommended moving forward with the project.

“I would recommend we go ahead with the project, but see if the RVRDA would be able to help us out,” she said.

Mr. Legault agreed, “I think it’s still a worthwhile project,” he said. “That bid includes everything. We don’t have to do a thing.”

He said once the project is complete, the municipal building and the adjoining town garage will be heated by pellet stoves.

“Right now we currently have fuel oil, and we’ll keep that as a back up, but we’re going green by switching to wood pellets.”

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