ELLENVILLE – Once again, Ellenville and Wawarsing are looking into the sharing of services, starting with local justice.

A 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 24 meeting between village and town officials, judges, and respective board members for the Village of Ellenville and Town of Wawarsing went as well as expected, considering past discussions regarding the consolidation of the two courts into one.

But the meeting wasn't called, as village judge Matt Parker said, to discuss the consolidation of the courts or even the dissolution of the village, as was also brought up during the hour-long meeting. The point of coming together was to explore the possibilities of holding town court at village hall, something Ellenville manager Joseph Stoeckeler carefully explained earlier in the week during the village's August 22 trustees meeting.

And while many valid points were discussed — namely that security continues to be a problem at town court — not much else was resolved.

"We have no problem with the town using this room," Kaplan said during Monday's village meeting, noting how frequently the town steps in to assist with road issues. But, he added, any sharing proposal would need to include conditions such as a requirement that the town clean the room after each use, and provide whatever additional security they might feel is required.

"They would have the right to use this conference room [behind the bench], but if they wanted their own offices they would have to rent them," Kaplan added.

As solutions continue to be vetted, our coverage will continue... including an upcoming in-depth report on the dynamics that occurred as the two municipalities came together for their morning discussion.

Also discussed at the Monday village meeting was Stoeckeler's update on current progress regarding the development of new backup wells within the village. Test drill sites conducted by village retained engineer Barton & Loguidice haven't gone as well as hoped, the manager said, with the first site to be tested at Mill Street Park unproductive. The second site to be tested is located near Berme Road Park, at the intersection of Graham Place and Berme Road, although it was noted that since that site is owned by the Ellenville Central School District, the school has to give their okay before the village can continue.

"We are very close to getting permission to go ahead," Stoeckeler said, noting that Barton & Loguidice have recommended going to a third site, located on River Street just outside the village, as well, and starting deeper consideration of a fourth site also outside the village limits.

But Kaplan disagreed.

"The cost of the third would be significantly more than the second site," he said, noting that the third site is privately owned and further away from the village, meaning an increase in cost in regards to piping. "I don't want to start spending taxpayer money on something then find out that we don't want to go through with the expense."

Ultimately, Stoeckeler said, the village is seeking a water source capable of producing 400 gallons a minute and that, he added, may take two new wells to accomplish. Currently, the village draws from the Fallsview and Harris wells, both of which have hit that quantity, as well as a Center Street well that Stoeckeler noted has seen a significant diminishing, having gone from 95 gallons a minute in its heyday to roughly 55.

Kaplan reiterated his wish to see the village proceed with the well choice on school property.

Meanwhile, the Town of Wawarsing is facing similar quandaries looking for new water sources.

In other news brought up in the village this week, Jaime Hennigan of BBG&G, the Orange County advertising firm hired by the Ulster County Economic Development Alliance to develop and implement a one year tourism campaign initiated by the Ellenville Million committee, presented the board with an upcoming event they're calling "Paint the Town Blue." A sidewalk chalk contest, the event is designed to take place along the sidewalks of Liberty Square on Saturday, Sept. 24, with a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 25.

"It's to bring people from the surrounding community to Ellenville," Hennigan said, adding how it would show off Ellenville's dining and other opportunities to visitors from around the area. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with judges from the town and village and a band, possibly bluegrass, playing in the afternoon.