Please find and view the most up to date news and information regarding the Town of Crawford listed below.
NYS Department of Taxation and Finance - Basic STAR Exemption
NYS Department of Taxation and Finance has informed our Town Assessor that they have sent out letters to homeowners requesting detailed information. To avoid losing the Basic STAR property tax exemption you must register with the state within 45 days of the date of the letter. The letter will look like:
TOWN OF CRAWFORD
NOTICE OF ESTOPPEL
The resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on October 21, 2021, and the validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations were authorized for an object or purpose for which the Town of Crawford, in the County of Orange, New York is not authorized to expend money or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the publication of this notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of the provisions of the constitution.
BOND RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF CRAWFORD, ADOPTED OCTOBER 21, 2021, APPROPRIATING $725,000.00 FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF FACILITIES OF PINE BUSH WATER DISTRICT IN SAID TOWN AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $725,000.00 SERIAL BONDS TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION.
___________________________________
JESSICA KEMPTER
Town Clerk
Object or purpose: Improvement of facilities of the
Pine Bush Water District
Amount of obligations to be issued: $725,000
Period of probable usefulness: Forty (40) years
SEQR Status: Type I
A complete copy of the Bond Resolution summarized above shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, 121 Route 302, Pine Bush, New York.
Dated: October 21, 2021
Pine Bush, New York
STATE OF EMERGENCY
EXECUTIVE ORDER BURN BAN 10-28-2024
Declaration of State of Emergency
A State of Emergency is hereby declared in the Town of Crawford, effective at 10:00 a.m. on October 28, 2024.
The State of Emergency has been declared due to drought conditions, which have affected the Town's water supply and have increased the risk of wildfires.
Such conditions threaten or imperil the public safety of the citizens of the Town of Crawford.
This State of Emergency will remain in effect until conditions improve and rescinded by the Town Supervisor.
As the Chief Executive of the Town of Crawford, Orange County, State of New York, I, Charles E. Carnes, exercised the authority given me under Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law, to preserve public safety and hereby render all required and available assistance vital to the security, well-being, and health of the citizens of this Municipality.
I hereby direct all departments and agencies of the Town of Crawford to take whatever steps necessary to protect life and property, public infrastructure, and provide such.
DATED: October 28, 2024
Charles E. Carnes, Supervisor
cc: Jessica Kempter, Town Clerk
J. Benjamin Gailey, Esq., Town Attorney
Town of Crawford Police Department
Pine Bush Fire Department
Bullville Fire Department
Town of Crawford Website
Enforcement:
All outdoor burning of yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires, outdoor fireplaces, chimneys, and cooking fires within said jurisdictions is prohibited unless:
1) Authorized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation;
2) For cooking of food exclusively within a contained gas or charcoal grill.
The setting of fires to any grass, brush or forest covered land, unless authorized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, shall constitute a violation of the law.
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the purpose of this order is the mitigation of public safety hazard posed by wildfires during the current dry weather conditions and the limited first responders and human resources to combat potential fires by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning, accordingly, this order shall expire when the conditions are again deemed safe, upon such date as determined by the Town of Crawford Supervisor in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Done and ordered this 28th day of October 2024
Charles E. Carnes, Town Supervisor
TOWN OF CRAWFORD EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 2024-01
AN ORDER AND DECLARATION FOR A BURN BAN FOR ALL OF THE TOWN OF CRAWFORD UNDER LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the Town of Crawford Supervisor hereby finds that circumstances present within the Town of Crawford create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Crawford Supervisor heretofore has declared a State of Emergency effective October 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., declaring that a state of emergency exists throughout the Town of Crawford due to severe drought conditions and the threat of wildfires caused by outdoor burning, and its imminent threat to the health and welfare of Town of Crawford citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Order, in accordance with Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law, authorizes political subdivisions to take whatever prudent action that is necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community; and
WHEREAS, Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law authorizes political subdivisions to take all necessary action and issue any necessary orders to protect human life; and
WHEREAS, October 28, 2024, the Town Supervisor of the Town of Crawford issued a Declaration of Local State of Emergency regarding the severe drought conditions; and
NOW, THEREFORE, it is ORDERED that outdoor burning is prohibited in all the Town of Crawford.
EFFECTIVE 12/3/2024 at 9:00am, the below State of Emergency has been lifted by Supervisor Charles E. Carnes.
STATE OF EMERGENCY - EXECUTIVE ORDER BURN BAN 10-28-2024
POSTED ON: OCTOBER 28, 2024 10:00AM
Annual Drinking Water Quality for 2022 - Pine Bush Water District
P.O. Box 109, Pine Bush, N.Y. 12566
To comply with State and Federal regulations, the Pine Bush Water District will be annually issuing a report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources. This report provides an overview of last year’s water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State standards.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your drinking water, please contact Chris Finnegan, Superintendent of Water and Sewer, at 744-2515. We want you to be informed about your drinking water. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled Town Board meetings. The meetings are held at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday of the month.
WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?
In general, the sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activities. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of
certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Department’s and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Our water source is entirely a ground water (well) supply consisting of three wells. During 2022 the water was pumped from the wells and treated with chlorine to destroy microorganisms and injected with phosphates to control iron and manganese prior to delivery to the customers. An average volume of approximately 241,000 gallons per day was withdrawn from the wells. Total water drawn from the wells for the year for 47,688,00. This supply served a population of approximately 2,100 plus a central school system of approximately 5,650. Some water loss can be attributed to water main breaks, flushing and normal system losses. The annual average charged for water during 2022 was $6.00 per 1000 gallons.
ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN OUR DRINKING WATER?
As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include total coliform, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, and synthetic organic compounds. Table I depicts which compounds were detected in your drinking water. The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old. A supplement containing all the test results is available for viewing by contacting Christopher Finnegan at the Water Department. Please call 845-744-2515. You may request a copy of the supplement containing these results.
What Does This Information Mean?
We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected. We are required to present the following information on lead in drinking water:
“Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure” If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women, infants, and young children. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. The Pine Bush Water District is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791)) or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or the Orange County Health Department at 845-291-2331.
Although our drinking water met or exceeded state and federal regulations, some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice from their health care provider about their drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800- 426-4791).
WHY SAVE WATER AND HOW TO AVOID WASTING IT?
Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water:
* Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life;
* Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers; and
* Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restrictions so that essential fire fighting needs are met. You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Conservation tips include:
* Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. So get a run for your money and load it to capacity.
* Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
* Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it up and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year.
* Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year.
* Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks. Simply turn off all taps and water using appliances, then check the meter after 15 minutes. If it moved, you have a leak.
There are presently three New York State Department of Health certified water operators employed by the Pine Bush Water District. Each operator must receive continuing education throughout the year. We at the Pine Bush Water Department work around the clock to provide top quality water at every tap. We ask that all of our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life, and our children’s future.
PLEASE CALL MY OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. 845-744-2515.
Christopher Finnegan, Chief Operator, Water & Sewer
Footnotes:
1. If iron or manganese are present, the total concentration of both should not exceed 0.5 Mg/L. Higher levels may be allowed by the State when justified by the supplier of water.
2. Iron has no health effects. At 1,000 ug/l a substantial number of people will note the bitter astringent taste of iron. Also, at this concentration, it imparts a brownish color to laundered clothing and stains plumbing fixtures with a characteristic rust color. Staining can result at levels of 50 ug/l, lower than those detectable to taste buds. Therefore, the MCL of 300 ug/l represents a reasonable compromise as adverse aesthetic effects are minimized at this level. Many multi-vitamins may contain 3000 or 4000 ug/l of iron per capsule.
3. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council determined an estimated safe and adequate daily dietary intake of manganese to be 2000-5000 ug/l for adults. However, many people’s diets lead them to consume even higher amounts of manganese, especially those who consume high amounts of vegetable or are vegetarian. The infant population is of greatest concern. It would be better if the drinking water were not used to make infant formula since it already contains iron and manganese.
4. Excess manganese produces a brownish color in laundered goods and impairs the taste of tea, coffee, and other beverages. Concentrations may cause a dark brown or black stain on porcelain plumbing fixtures. As with iron, manganese may form a coating on distribution pipes. These may slough off, causing brown blotches on laundered clothing or black particles in the water.
5. Water containing more than 20 mg/L of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 mg/L of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets.
6. The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 20 sites tested. A percentile is a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the copper values detected at your water system. In this case, 20 samples were collected at your water system and the 90th percentile value was the third highest value. The action level for copper was not exceeded at any of the sites tested.
7. The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 20 sites tested. A percentile is a value of a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the lead values detected at your water system. In this case, 20 samples were collected at your water system and the 90th percentile value was the third highest value. The action level for lead was not exceeded at any of the sites tested.
8. Lease note that in addition to PFOS and PFOA, the lab ran the analysis for the entire EPA method 537.1, which includes 16 additional perfluorinated chemicals, 4 of these additional chemicals were detected, the highest of which was 4.19 ng/l. These additional analytes are not currently regulated and do not have an MCL.
Pine Bush W.D.
Source Water Assessment Report Summary
The NYS DOH has completed a source assessment for this system, based on available information. Possible and actual threats to this drinking water source were evaluated. The state source water assessment includes a susceptibility rating based on the risk posed by each potential source of contamination and how easily contaminants can move through the subsurface to the wells. The susceptibility rating is an estimate of the potential for contamination of the source water, it does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become contaminated. See “Table of Detected Contaminants” for a list of the contaminants that have been detected. The source water assessments provide resource managers with additional information for protecting source waters into the future.
As mentioned before, our water is derived from three drilled wells. The source water assessment has rated these wells as having a medium-high to susceptibility to microbials, nitrates, industrial solvents, and other industrial contaminates. These ratings are due primarily to the close proximity of SPDES permitted discharge facilities (industrial/commercial facilities that discharge wastewater into the environment and are regulated by the state and/or federal government), the low-level residential activity and the pasture that are located in the assessment area. In addition, the wells draw from an unconfined aquifer of high hydraulic conductivity and the overlying soils may not provide adequate protection from potential contamination. While the source water assessment rates our well as being susceptible to microbials, please note that our water is disinfected to ensure that the finished water delivered into your home meets New York State’s drinking water standards for microbial contamination.
The Town of Crawford has made some significant upgrades to your water system with guidance from our water operatrs from H2O Innovation. Including, Fire Hydrants have been replaced, relocation of hydrants to better suite the needs of the public.. All Hydrants in the system have been tested and working. Flushing of the district has continued, we have daytime and nighttime flushing operators. Every Spring and Fall, the town will send out information beforehand. This removes all settling common to natural minerals in the system mains. We have noticed significant improvement of water quality out of our hydrants with this flushing program. Meters throughout the system have been repaired to insure correct asset management of our water.
Green Sand filter project is ongoing at all well houses to improve the quality of drinking water in the town. This will be a significant upgrade to the towns drinking water.
A copy of the assessment, including a map of the assessment area, can be obtained by contacting us, as noted in this report. H2O Innovation 24 hour answering service number (845)888-5755. Thanks!
Non-Detects (ND) - Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Conversion Factor - Multiply By To Obtain
Mg/L(ppm) Multiply detected Ug/L(ppb)
Level by 1,000
Divide By To Obtain
UG/L(ppb) Divide detected MG/L(ppm)
Hardness - Measured in grains (1 grain=17.1 mg/L) or mg/L, any water over 10 grains is considered very hard.
Maximum Contaminant Level - The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. MCL’s are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal – The ”Goal” (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mgl) - One part per million corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid ( parts per million - ppm)
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - One part per billion corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion - ppb)
**IS OUR WATER SYSTEM MEETING OTHER RULES THAT GOVERN OPERATIONS?
We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards. Please see below all sample results required from Orange County DOH for our water system in 2022.
Violations:
Table of Detected Contaminants
Contaminant
Violation
Yes/No
Date of Sample
Level Detected
(Avg/Max)
(Range)
Unit
Measure-ment
MCLG
Regulatory Limit (MCL, TT or AL)
Likely Source of Contamination
Barium
No
7/10/18
Max = 0.23
Range =
0.11 to 0.23
mg/l
2
MCL = 2
Erosion of natural deposits.
Arsenic
7/18
Max = 1.4
ND to 1.4
ug/l
N/A
MCL = 10
Sodium
7/15/22
Max = 88
0.42 to .086
See Note 5
Road Salt
Nickel
7/14/21
Max = 3.2
1.9 to 3.2
100
MCL = 100
Erosion of natural deposits
**Copper6
9/30/19
90th%tile= .021
MG/L
1.3
AL=1.3Mg/l
Corrosion of household plumbing systems
**Lead7
90th %=3.4
(ND-9.1)
Ug/l
0
AL=15
Nitrate
10/19/22
AVG= 0.134
10
MCL=10
Run-off from fertilizer use
Coliform
no
10/4/202
Positive coliform
MPN
n/a
Bacteria
Table of Detected Contaminants Con’t
Organic/Inorganic Contamination Chemical
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs – chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform)
7/11/22
11
MCL = 80
By-product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. TTHMs are formed when source water contains organic matter.
HAA5
8.4
Uranium
7/10/17
Max = 2.86
N.D to 2.86
MCL = 30
Iron1/4
Yes
2/24/21
9/8/21
12/23/21
Max = 0.27
ND to .27
0.3
Naturally occurring
Manganese3/4
YES
Max = 0.321
Range
0.042 - 0.321
bromomethane
3/29/22
0.99
5
Used to kill a variety of pest
Total Phosphate
Jan-Dec
365
Samples
Avg.=.90
Range=
.10 to 3.0
NSF
MAX=29
Water additive for Iron and Manganese control
Annual Drinking Water Quality for 2023 - Pine Bush Water District
121 State Route 302, Pine Bush, N.Y. 12566
2. Iron is essential for maintaining good health. However, too much iron can cause adverse health effects. Drinking water with very large amounts of iron can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. These effects usually diminish once the elevated iron exposure is stopped. A small number of people have a condition called hemochromatosis, in which the body absorbs and stores too much iron. People with hemochromatosis may be at greater risk for health effects resulting from too much iron in the body (sometimes called “iron overload”) and should be aware of their overall iron intake. The New York State standard for iron in drinking water is 0.3 milligrams per liter, and is based on iron’s effects on the taste, odor and color of the water.
3. Manganese is a common element in rocks, soil, water, plants, and animals. Manganese occurs naturally in water after dissolving from rocks and soil. Contamination of drinking water may occur if manganese gets into surface or groundwater after dissolving from rocks and soil. It may also occur if manganese gets into surface or groundwater after improper waste disposal in landfills or by facilities using manganese in the production of steel or other products.
4. Manganese is an essential nutrient that is necessary to maintain good health. However, exposure to too much manganese can cause adverse health effects. There is some evidence from human studies that long-term exposure to manganese in drinking water is associated with nervous system effects in adults (e.g., weakness, stiff muscles and trembling of the hands) and children (learning and behavior). The results of these studies only suggest an effect because the possible influences of other factors were not adequately assessed. There is supporting evidence that manganese causes nervous system effects in humans from occupational studies of workers exposed to high levels of manganese in air, but the relevance of these studies to long term drinking water exposure is less clear because the exposures were quite elevated and by inhalation, not by ingestion.4. Excess manganese produces a brownish color in laundered goods and impairs the taste of tea, coffee, and other beverages. Concentrations may cause a dark brown or black stain on porcelain plumbing fixtures. As with iron, manganese may form a coating on distribution pipes. These may slough off, causing brown blotches on laundered clothing or black particles in the water.
7. The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 20 sites tested. A percentile is a value of a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the lead values detected at your water system. In this case, 20 samples were collected at your water system and the 90th percentile value was the third highest value. The action level for lead was exceeded at one of the sites tested. Please see section “What does this information mean?” for health information on Lead.
8. Please note that in addition to PFOS and PFOA, the lab ran the analysis for the entire EPA method 537.1, which includes 16 additional perfluorinated chemicals, 4 of these additional chemicals were detected, the highest of which was 4.19 ng/l. These additional analytes are not currently regulated and do not have an MCL.
The Town of Crawford has made some significant upgrades to your water system with guidance from our water operators from H2O Innovation. Including, Fire Hydrants have been replaced, relocation of hydrants to better suite the needs of the public.. All Hydrants in the system have been tested and working. Flushing of the district has continued, we have daytime and nighttime flushing operators. Every Spring and Fall, the town will send out information beforehand. This removes all settling common to natural minerals in the system mains. We have noticed significant improvement of water quality out of our hydrants with this flushing program. Meters throughout the system have been repaired to insure correct asset management of our water.
Green Sand filter project is completed and we are seeing great removal or iron and manganese in the system, we will continue to flush to remove and keep our water safe.
During 2023, our system was in compliance with applicable State drinking water operating, monitoring and reporting requirements.
8/22/23
Max = 76.5
11.1-76.5
9/27/23
90th%tile= 0.34 (0.018 - 0.432)
90th %=8.74
(ND – 74.8)
6/22/23
8/21/23
Range = 0.119-0.358
The Town of Crawford is pleased to announce that we are in the process of transitioning our water meter reading system to a LTE Cellular endpoint system to efficiently and securely deliver meter reading data to us via a reliable cellular network. You will be able to monitor your own water use via an “App”, accessible on your phone, tablet or computer. You will also be able to set up alarms for excessive use, leaking/ dripping faucets, toilets, etc.
We are asking that you contact our Water & Sewer Department at 845-744-2515 to schedule an appointment to have your Cellular endpoint installed. Be sure to leave your name, address, account and telephone number, an employee from our contracting company, JCO will return your call to set up an appointment day and time.