By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM – The village continues to deal with potential fixes for its troubled hydropower generators and is considering a $135,000 repair to two gearboxes from the idled East Plant.

They are also hoping an alignment of the moving parts in the two generators in the West Plant will prevent future wear in those units.

The gearboxes from the East Plant are still in Delaware at Philadelphia Gear, which has inspected the units that were damaged shortly after an earlier repair. The comoany has told the village board that getting them back in working order will cost about $135,000, Trustee and Deputy Mayor Eleanor Hopke said.

No decision on that was reached at Monday’s meeting, Hopke said.

Meanwhile at the newer West Plant, the trustees are hoping a laser alignment of its two generators will stop wear in one gearbox there and prevent wear on the other unit.

“It’s thought there is wear due to misalignment,” Hopke said, and Maine Industrial Repair Services in Augusta, Maine can perform laser alignment for a little more than $5,000.

The board “decided to align both of the West Plant turbines,” Hopke said.

Hopke said she had doubts during the discussion about pursuing the alignment, but she said she finally agreed due to the expertise of Trustee Nick Sheehan, who works in the construction business.

Maine Industrial could also repeat the process periodically to keep the works in alignment.

One more infrastructure problem was discussed at Monday’s meeting, this one related to wastewater plant operations.

The board discussed replacing a defective valve on a boiler at the plant that would cost $1,800. It is fueled by methane which is readily available at the plant.

“If they can’t use the small boiler they will have to fire up a big one that uses natural gas,” which the village would buy, Hopke said.

The board continues to consider which option would be the better one.