iBerkshires.com  reports the Briggsville Water District is making progress in re-establishing controls over the public water company that serves nearly 200 people in the River Road area.
In April, a handful of district members reconstituted the board of water commissioners, which will have to oversee a budget, hire an operator and fulfill the decrees handed down by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Chairman Carl McKinney said he was told that about $25,000 in grant funding should be available to demolish the property at 494 River Road and that he wanted to get the request for proposals for evaluated the hazardous materials be put on the next agenda. He didn't think there was asbestos inside but there is low-fiber in the siding.
Commissioner Deborah Lapine said she'd gotten three different  prices on the evaluation from local companies, ranging from $650 to $1,500.
The 1880 house will be demolished to provide space for a water tank that would provide two days of water for the district. The property was purchased in June for $26,555 from PNC Bank.
The water district also approved unanimously the appointment of Beverly Cooper as its accountant. Cooper has worked in municipal accounting and finance for many years and is currently treasurer/tax collector for the city of North Adams.
The commission also discussed setting up a capital budget to begin repairs and upgrades and setting up an alert or information system to apprise district members of water problems, meetings and other issues.

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