By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

INLET - The Inlet Town Board has authorized First Energy Group, Phoenix, NY, to go over the town’s last two years of electrical bills to see if the town might have been overcharged for electric service.

There is no direct charge to do the research, though the company will take a percentage of any savings (discrepancies) it finds.

The board could authorize First Energy to research further back, but there would be an up-front charge. Authorization would depend upon any savings realized from researching the past two years.

First Energy Group monitors energy suppliers available in Central New York, and recommends to its clients the most competitive energy service companies.

SEWER MONEY

Supervisor John Frey reported Congressman William “Bill” Owens is trying to get additional funding from New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation for Inlet’s Clean Waters project.

According to Owens’ office, EFC says Inlet is at the top of the list for an adjustment, but there are no promises yet. An answer may not be known before the end of February or the first of March.

“Our best hope now is to start construction on the downtown sewer system in May,” Frey told the board Jan. 10.

Inlet will have to cut back on the sewer system as planned if the grant is not increased.

HIGHWAY NEWS

The board authorized Superintendent of Highways Shawn Hanson to put several pieces of old equipment up for sale on Auction International, including sanders, saws and a 1998 truck.

Winter hours have started at the transfer station. It is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and from 12-1 p.m. open days for lunch.

OTHER BUSINESS

• The board accepted the low bid of $16,948 from Richard Lutz Building and Mechanical, Inlet, to replace the roof on Cottage 1 at Arrowhead Park.

• Building and occupancy permits were down from 2010 to 2011.

• Snowmobile permit sales were 584 as of Dec. 30. This is down from 655 sold as of Dec. 30, 2010.

• Councilman Herb Schmid provided the board members with copies of a 33-page emergency operations plan he recently updated for their review.

• The Parks Department reported cross-country ski trails in Fern Park are open and groomed, but the ice rink needs more cold weather before it is opened.

The Inlet Town Board will next meet Tuesday, Feb. 14, starting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.