The Town of Wawarsing approved about $225,000 in payments toward the Wawarsing Water District as the $22 million project, funded by the Department of Environmental Protection, nears completion.

The Town Board, meeting on Thursday night, approved a payment application of $165,000 to the National Water Main Cleaning Co. for improvements to the Kerhonkson Wastewater Collection System; $40,000 to H. Ousterhoudt’s Excavating Inc. for Route 209 water distribution mains, and $20,482 for TAM Enterprises for the Wawarsing Water District’s water treatment facility and well field. In addition, the board approved a $60,000 loan to cover the cost of the Ousterhoudt’s payment,

All the funds will eventually be refunded to the town by the DEP, which is financing the entire project.

The water tank feeding the Wawarsing Water District south of the highway garage has been turned on and works well, and the district no longer has to use water from Kerhonkson, according to Councilperson Cassie Spoor. Napanoch and Kerhonkson customers should look for notices in the mail to make appointments in February to inspect water meters, she added.

The board also agreed to pay $39,236 to Delaware Engineering and $5,594 to Advance Testing for their work on the highway garage. Payment applications were approved for $77,319 to J&J Sass Electrical and $1.84 million to Darlind Associates for their garage work.

The town also announced that nominations for its latest “Nominate Your Neighbor” contest for best holiday decorations will be accepted between No. 24 and Dec. 11, with voting to begin Dec. 12.