Steady progress, not flashy breakthroughs, defined Watkins Glen in 2025 — and Mayor Laurie DeNardo says that approach will guide the village moving forward.
In a recent Odessa File column, DeNardo reflected on a year centered on consistency, long-term thinking, and protecting the village’s future while outlining projects completed and challenges still ahead.
DeNardo wrote that 2025 brought a clearer focus for her and the Village Board. She emphasized investing in people, making decisions that feel aligned with community values, and safeguarding the village’s long-term heritage. She also thanked residents, staff, and colleagues for their support and shared conversations throughout the year.
The mayor also addressed health challenges she faced during the summer. She said she is recovering well and expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, especially from village staff.
On the financial side, DeNardo credited the Board of Trustees and the administrative team with keeping taxes down while planning for the future. The village reduced its property tax rate again, aligned the budget more closely with department needs, and continued building capital funds. She described village departments as lean but effective and praised police and fire personnel for providing critical services to protect health and safety.
The column also highlighted the completion of all Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects. The final effort included opening a new all-inclusive, ADA-accessible playground at Clute Park, made possible through state and county funding. Other finished projects included the Lafayette bathrooms and four gateway signs. DeNardo said the village continues to invest in Clute Park with added dock space, improved bathhouse facilities, community center upgrades, and expanded programming for all ages.
Major infrastructure work also featured prominently in the update. Phase I of water system improvements wrapped up in 2025, including new intake lines, plant upgrades, and a new tank. DeNardo said Phase II planning is underway and warned residents to expect disruption as aging underground pipes are replaced. She called the work overdue but necessary to ensure long-term reliability. The village is also discussing expanded connections to the joint wastewater treatment plant, which could benefit neighboring communities and lead to a review of village customer rates.
Parking and energy costs remain ongoing concerns. DeNardo said village street laws continue to guide parking enforcement, but the village has invested in a new pay-to-park system for park and village lots. The village also added a parking enforcement attendant and a school traffic guard to improve safety for children. She also warned that continued bitter cold could push the village beyond its lower-rate electricity allotment. While trustees approved the maximum allowable power purchase to help residential customers, high demand will still result in higher costs.
The mayor closed by recognizing several village employees. Officer Chris Daloia received the 2026 Board of Trustees Employee of the Year award for his police work and for securing grants that funded a new police vehicle, safety equipment, and a LiveScan system. The village also recognized electric department staff member Jeff Heichel for completing his lineman apprenticeship, Calvin and Owen Buckley for earning wastewater treatment 2A licenses, and John Kuparinen and Cameron Bryington for obtaining their CDL licenses.
Looking ahead, DeNardo said she enters 2026 focused on building habits, relationships, and systems that support long-term growth, carrying forward the lessons learned in 2025.
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