Note: Our coverage of Lansing's now defunct sewer project always got high readership.  And it generated an enormous number of puns, as in our headline for the 25th most read story of all time, "Town Must Build Sewer Or Get Off The Pot " (one of the most-commented-upon headlines we have ever done).  We thought you'd like to reread the story that ended it all.

July 6 -- Lansing's Town Board voted unanimously this morning  to table the sewer project indefinitely.  The $18 million project has been in development for at least a dozen years as Lansing participated with the 'Group of 6,' other local communities seeking a shared municipal solution to treating effluent in the area, for a half dozen years, and another six trying to come up with a viable solution for Lansing.  In the end it came down to too much cost.  "We listened to everybody both pro and con," says Town Supervisor Steve Farkas.  "We went down every avenue as far as monies available, all of those things.  At this point it's just not there."

Over the past several years a sewer committee met at least once a month and often more, to try to come up with a solution that would both serve the Town and be cost effective.  A subcommittee spearheaded by Andy Sciarabba and Noel Desch attempted to find additional funding the bring the cost down.  But as more people wanted to be included in the area that would actually be serviced the cost continued to climb.  Farkas says that and inflation did the project in.  "I would say at least 60% of the increasing cost since the late '80s has been inflation," he estimated.  "It's killed us."

While some people in Lansing have repeatedly charged that the Town Board was forcing the sewer on the community, the truth is that there was never any official vote.  "Contrary to popular thought the Board had never voted on anything as far as accepting a draft plan or forming a sewer district," says Councilwoman Connie Wilcox.  "When we took a poll, none of us were in favor of those increased taxes for anybody.  It's just way too much money.  That's the factor right there -- it's just way too much money."

Councilman Marty Christopher concurred.  "For the past few months those of us who aren't on the committee and haven't been approached about our feelings have been lumped together with the feeling that the Board was pushing this project through," he says.  "Many friends of mine have said, 'Why is the Board doing this?'  And I've had to say that the Board isn't."

Deputy Supervisor Bud Shattuck, who chaired the sewer committee, says that while it is disappointing that the project won't be built, there is also an element of relief.  "It looked like a sewered Lansing on bedrock next to a lakefront is a wise and viable thing," he says.  "But we've all come to the conclusion that it is in no way affordable.  Just to the average person it's not affordable.  There are still a lot of people who need sewer, but not at this cost."

Farkas says that some good has come from the process that will be on benefit to the general area.  "There are still monies that will continue to improve the Cayuga Heights sewage treatment plant," he says.  "Upgrades have already taken place there and at the city plant.  So there have been benefits to it already, but as far as the Town is concerned it's just too expensive at this point."


Farkas also said that Town officials are hoping to work with the Village of Lansing to hook up the Transonic Systems industrial park north of the airport to the Village sewer.  Companies there have been lobbying the Town to bring sewer there, saying they can't continue to expand their plants without sewer facilities.

When asked whether the Town still has the tools to encourage growth where it will be most beneficial, Shattuck says, "We're not trying to encourage anything.  What we're trying to do is gauge the public's needs and wants.  Most of us would like a grocery store back here.  We also would like to have a way to have doctors and dentists here, and nd lawyers and other things that we need.  To have professional offices here as you would in any small community and develop them into the center of Town, wherever that center is."

For now sewer will not be in that tool kit.  "We are wholeheartedly in favor of sewer at some time down the road, but this isn't that time," Christopher says.  "It will have to come later.  Much later."

Farkas concurs.  "I feel, and I think I speak for the rest of the Board, that it was the right thing to do."

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