- By Dan Veaner
- News
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But Town Attorney Guy Krogh says that the cost to property owners will still be less than the $592 annual payback over a 30 year period that they approved last year. The Town has qualified for a 20 year 0% interest Environmental Facility Corporation loan that will mean residents will initially pay $427 annually. As others join the district extension that cost per Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) will go down. And Krogh says it is unlikely that residents there will pay the fee for the entire 20 years. "At some point the amount that they owe will be equal to what they would pay if they joined the Consolidated District," Krogh explained.
Town attorney Guy Krogh (left) and Supervisor Steve Farkas
District Extension #1 was hotly contested until it came to a vote in April of 2006. Some Algerine Road residents were passionately against it, saying that they could be driven out of their homes by the extra cost. Others were as hotly in favor of the project, saying that the water quality of wells at their lakeshore homes is uneven, with at least one well testing positive for crypto sporidia.
Many residents were critical of the way voter eligibility was determined. By State law only those who owned homes at the time of the last election for governor were eligible, with each owner getting one vote even if they owned multiple lots in the district. Renters, who were at greatest risk of not being able to afford rises in rent caused by the project, were not eligible to vote. But Krogh explained Wednesday as he did before the district was formed, that eligibility to vote on the formation of a water district is determined by State legislators, and is out of the control of the Town Board.
One resident who has been vocally opposed to the project is Beverly Abplanap, an Algerine Road farmer. She spoke against the water project Wednesday, also reading a letter from Kerry Jo Uhroucik, a long time Lansing resident. "I question the fundamental fairness of the decision that fails to take (renters) them into full consideration," she said. She also chastised the board for allowing the water district to threaten farmers in Lansing. These arguments mirrored other resident's comments to the Board before last year's vote was taken.
But Farkas explained that the Board only formed the district to honor resident's wishes. "There were 80 eligible voters," explained Supervisor Steve Farkas. "The vote was 60 to 20. That's how the district was established."
Later in the meeting Krogh noted that many residents are asking to be added to existing water districts, resulting in costs to the town including environmental studies, and hidden costs in employee time. Deputy Supervisor Bud Shattuck noted that some of these unfairly joined the district after their neighbors had payed off the cost of constructing the water lines. Krogh suggested that the board consider procedures to minimize the problem. "The public interest must be balanced by fundamental fairness," Krogh said.
With the outcome of another vote likely to be the same, town officials don't expect a further challenge to the start of construction, as that would likely have the same result but at a higher cost to residents within the district. Negotiations between the Town and a landowner on Algerine Road to place a pressure reducing station on his property are reportedly not going well, but Krogh said that he thinks they will come to an agreement because the landowner can make out better in an agreement than if the Town is forced to acquire the property using eminent domain. He noted that the engineers have stated that is the only location on the hill that would be effective, thus negotiating with another landowner is not possible.
If all goes smoothly officials say construction could begin this year.
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