BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

CANTON — National Grid will have permanent easement at the St. Lawrence County Highway Department facility in Potsdam.

The approval came during the County Legislature’s Finance Committee meeting on Aug. 29 and requires final approval by the full board at the next meeting.

Officials say the move will enable National Grid to install poles on the new highway facility properties.

“We have an easement on an adjacent property for the driveway and we’ll be following that new driveway in the parcel where the outpost is being constructed,” Highway Superintendent Don Chambers told the committee.

Officials say the approval for the easement was required prior to operating at the facility, with utilities still needing installation.

In total, three facilities are being built to the tune of $3 million for the highway department to store sand, salt and equipment.

The other two facilities are located in Lisbon and Russell.

Officials on the Finance Committee also unanimously approved a contract with St. Lawrence Valley Educational Television Council, who maintain a communications antenna in South Colton.

Officials say the cost is $17,710 for the contract, though there are hopes it won’t be necessary next year.

“This is an agreement we’ve been doing for a number of years,” Chambers said.

“It provides two-way communications for the Department of Highways and also many of the town organizations in the county.”

Chambers said the hope is that new towers will be installed by the end of the current contract.