In closing off valves to isolate the break, “that shakes up the system,” said Brett Hotaling, the village's superintendent of Public Works.

Will Smith, Voorheesville's public works superintendent since 1999, resigned in February. He previously served the village as assistant superintendent under new Superintendent Brett Hotaling's father, William.

Voorheesville's deputy clerk treasurer said in the decade she's worked for the village there has never been a contested election.

If federal grant money doesn't come through for a rail-trail center and museum in Voorheesville, the village wants to proceed with the project locally, hoping to attract tourists to the start of the route that is to one day reach Albany.