Mayor’s Message January 2026
Happy New Year!
Each January people focus on their plans and hopes for the year ahead.
It’s the same for those of us who serve in Rhinebeck Village government as we plan for the future while continuing to build on a number of important projects which are already underway.
One of those projects is at our Wastewater Treatment Plant. It’s a big project which is very important to keep our systems clean and operational for future years. Forgive me if I nerd out a little bit on the details.
2025 saw the start of our upgrades to the plant, with a 0% interest loan from EFC for two years. A total of $3.5M will be invested into the improvements to be completed in 2026. Most of the improvements involve upgrading the existing aged systems.
The concrete around our clarifiers was redesigned and completed along with new stairs enhancing safety and drainage.
Upgraded LED lights throughout the grounds for increased visibility and energy savings.
New heat pumps for heating and cooling in the main building for more cost-effective energy savings.
A mechanical bar screen was put in, when activated this unit will help to remove 99% of non-organic material that can cause disruptions to our process. This will also limit exposure to removing these by hand at numerous points in the plant and extend the life of equipment.
The installation of a brand new GLASCO NONCON UV SYSTEM. This unit replaces an out-of-date system.
It will provide the most up to date disinfection without the use of chemicals.
An easier/safer way for service and cleaning.
Use FEP Tubes instead of quartz that will eliminate mineral build up and shorten maintenance time.
Can be upgraded easily when needed.
Handle more gallons per minute which will limit short circuiting.
The filters are getting a significant upgrade with metal tanks being replaced by concrete.
State-of-the-art pumps, cranes, and control panels will all be installed with real-time messaging to allow faster repair times and less troubleshooting when problems arise.
The extended air lift system for RAS (Return Activated Sludge) has been upgraded with VFDs (Variable Frequency Drive) to allow for more fine tuning of the RAS, which play a major role in keeping our microbial population healthy.
Brand new electrical motors were installed on the EA rotors, accompanied by VFD, to fine tune the speed of the rotors for the perfect blend of mixing, adding air to the tanks without costly limitations of having to run on limited settings before.
Our knowledgeable team of Chief Operator Will Caruso, Scott Rathjen and Andy McDermott, contributed to the design with their expertise and have kept the plant running smoothly 24/7. It takes a lot of specific knowledge of the plant, as well as constant monitoring.
The plant treated over 40,000,000 gallons of wastewater in 2025, returning it safely to the environment while maintaining limits far safer even than those set by NYSDEC and the EPA. Once the upgrades are completed, the wastewater effluent (after treatment) coming from the plant will be even better quality.
During the year the plant had many tours including, NYS EFC and Board of Health and received high praise from numerous individuals in and out of the industry. In the future, plans will be made for local residents and schools to tour the facility and see the day-to-day operations.
There are also ongoing improvements underway at our Water Treatment Plant, replacing several main valves in the transmission pipes as part of those upgrades. The process requires shutting the plant down while the work is underway on the pipes. And, as many of you have noticed, there have been some temporary changes to the appearance of the water. There have been several instances recently where the water coming out of the tap has appeared brown or tea colored.
When workers shut off the water or change the direction of the flow, it causes pressure changes, which can mean a sudden rush of water or a change in pressure that "scours" the inside of the water mains, stirring up mineral deposits, silt, and rust (iron and manganese) that have settled at the bottom over years.
Is it safe to use? In most cases, yes, but with precautions.
Drinking/Cooking: Generally, the sediment is not harmful if accidentally consumed, but it can have a metallic taste or gritty texture. We recommend running the tap until it’s clear before drinking or cooking.
Bathing: It is safe for bathing, though it may leave a slight residue on the skin or tub if the water is very dark.
Laundry (The "No" Zone): Do not do laundry while the water is brown. The iron and manganese particles can permanently stain clothes, especially whites.
Will this happen again?
There is only one more PLANNED shutdown that should occur sometime in January. Before this next one is done, we will let the community know. We do our best to flush the brown water out of the transmission line, but often some gets through, and even the process of flushing it causes discoloration. This is actually why we need to replace these old pipes and the end result will be even cleaner water for the Village.
The Rhinebeck Village Tree Commission invites Rhinebeck Village homeowners to reach out if they are interested in having a free deciduous tree planted in the Right of Way on their property. Flowering and/or shade trees are offered, depending on the site’s restrictions such as overhead wires, lawn or median location, proximity to the house and availability from the tree supplier. Volunteers will plant the trees in April in the designated location. Homeowners will be asked to support the young tree by watering it through the growing season. The result will be another lovely tree to enhance our beautiful village. For further information, please refer to the Rhinebeck Village Tree Commission website found here or contact Meg Crawford, Commission Chair at megcrawford37@gmail.com. The deadline for applying for a tree is February 1,,2026.
Happy Anniversary!
Please join me in celebrating our employee anniversaries, with a special recognition and thanks for Officer Steve Hanaburgh who has been with our Village PD for 40 years!
The following people also celebrated Anniversaries in December!
Highway Laborer Quinton Green – 1 year
Deputy Clerk Krissy Denu- 16 years
Officer in Charge Peter Dunn- 24 years
Welcome Adam Fitzpatrick who started as a Highway Supervisor on December 14th!
As always, please reach out to me with any questions or comments. You can reach me by phone 845-876-7015 ext 2 at Village Hall or via email, And just like that it’s 2026! The line reflects themes of change and new beginnings, and a continuous story of the previous year. For our Village, 2026 will be a continuous journey building on the previous year with many major projects underway.