The announcement was made Tuesday by Senator James Seward (R-Milford) and officials from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The ultraviolet light system will mean an end to chlorination that had been used in the past. No longer will the effluent from the plant be sending chlorine down the Susquehanna River.

The move to ultraviolet light came about because of the need to meet tougher restrictions on the chlorine level in the effluent from the plant. Sewer board chairman and trustee Dr. Theodore Peters and representatives from Lamont Engineers hammered out an agreement with the Department of Environmental Conservation last year that allowed the village to research the use of ultraviolet light.

The engineering study concluded it would be feasible, but costly.

A decision was made to apply for a grant and Peters, with the aid of Bill Waller, the mayor's husband, and other village officials and employees, crafted an application that was ultimately successful despite stiff competition for limited funds.

Officials said repeatedly during Tuesday's announcement that the quality of the village's application weighed heavily in its favor and stood out among the eight or 10 municipalities all looking for money for the same type of project.

The success is a good illustration of what can be achieved with teamwork that involves not just local government but also community volunteers willing to offer some of their expertise.

In recent years, the village administration seemed to eschew grant money. There appeared to be an attitude that said we aren't going to be successful, so why bother investing the time and effort.

In fact in one meeting, former mayor Wendell Tripp suggested the state should take its grant money and help someone else like Richfield Springs.

As a reason, officials often pointed to what they perceived to be a widely held belief in Albany that Cooperstown was a "wealthy" village and didn't need grant money.

The grant announced this week seems to us to demonstrate that it is possible for the village to successfully apply for and receive grant funds.

We offer our congratulations to everyone involved in the grant application and hope it is only the beginning of a renewed effort that will see more of our tax dollars rightfully returned to this area.