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Lansing held its second open house Saturday to give residents a chance to talk one-on-one to engineers and town officials about the proposed sewer project.  Sewer Committee members have been working to address questions raised by residents at past informational meetings and through letters, telephone calls and e-mail.  Tables were set up around the court room in Lansing Town Hall with maps and documents defining the $18.2 million project.  The town sent more than 1400 post cards to residents within the proposed district, but turnout was relatively low with mainly people who had been to previous meetings.


Passing the sewer project is an uphill battle with residents who answered a recent questionnaire two to one against.  While many of those said that price is the main objection, others say that the project will cost more than estimated, and will change the character of Lansing life.  "People come to Lansing for the rural character," says Gary Schnock.  "They want some property and they want a good school.  And that won't be there if this happens, because the property issue is gone and the schools will be overcrowded.  So Lansing is not going to have the aura of desirability that it has.  I'd go to Newfield then, or another town, because there you can get the country feel that's very quickly disappearing from this town.

But others look forward to having sewer service.  "From what I can see it's something we're going to need as a community down the road, so I support the concept," says Dale Baker.  "I know that there's certainly cost involved, but they're doing everything they can to minimize the cost, get more grants, get lower interest loans, and things like that."

While residents like Schnock, who are against having sewer at any cost, are the most vocal, there are others in the middle who support sewer in concept, but don't like the plan as it currently stands.  "In evaluating the literature that was sent to me about their proposed plans for developing this and paying for it, I'm a proponent for having the system, but I'm an opponent of the way it's currently being presented for financing," says Vic Rendano, a resident who owns business properties around town including the car wash near the Lansing Post Office. 


Rendano says he would like to see it phased in so that residents with current systems only hook up if their septic system fails.  "I would like to have it so that it would be mandated that any new development would have to hook up to the system," he explains.  "Any time a property is sold, or a new owner for that property, it would be mandated.  So there would be an orderly transition and it would not force people who have working systems to have to be encumbered with additional expenses."

Town officials expressed some frustration that more people are not taking advantage of informational meetings and open houses.  Town Supervisor Steve Farkas says that while the most outspoken residents are making their opinions known loud and clear, that it is hard to evaluate how many residents within the district are really for or against the project.  "Right now if we took the attendance list from the last two or three meetings we have the same people asking the same questions," he says.  "Unfortunately it really isn't enough to give you an idea of how things are."

In the meantime the Sewer Committee continues to meet to identify public concerns and attempt to address them.  With a subcommittee soliciting private donations and additional funding to lower the cost to property owners.  They have already made adjustments to the formula used to assign cost to residents based on some comments received.  Town officials have acknowledged that they probably can't change the minds of those who are against sewer at any cost.  But they say that with more public input they may be able to craft the project to a point where voters will accept it.

Cost is a major factor that could affect votes.  "You can only increase the cost of doing business and pass it along to a certain degree," Rendano says.  "If you look at Lansing now, there are properties for rent that are going wanting, and that is stopping additional construction."  Committee members recognize that if they can address concerns raised by residents like Rendano, the project could gain support.  Town officials estimate that the project won't come to a vote until July, giving them time to get more community input and to try to address the issues raised.

Once the Town Council votes to establish a sewer district, residents within the district have 30 days to petition for a permissive referendum.  Farkas not only expects the referendum to take place, but looks forward to it.  "Let it go to the people," he says.  I am a real believe in that.  I don't think that five board members should sit here and make that decision.  That's the good part of a permissive referendum.  People can petition for it, you can hold the vote and the majority rules.  That's just the way it should be."

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