Archive: Opinions

A business employing 100 people in Lansing wants to expand.  They can't expand on their current site because they have to use half the land for a septic system.  They have become an important world-wide company in the medical field.  They support their town's sewer project, but it falls through.  Someone has the bright idea to create a limited sewer project that will service this company, as well as other companies, apartment complexes that also want to expand, and some residences.  On the possibility of sewer the company decides to stay to see what develops.

This smaller project succeeds, in part because the company is willing to pay for it, and in part because others within the proposed district are so desperate for sewer that they agree to pay a rather high annual fee to pay off the cost of construction and O&M.  Town and County officials have the foresight to work with the company toward a common goal with benefits for everybody.  Meanwhile, the company hires another 30 people to work in the location and starts doubling its building space.  All the planets align, the sewer is completed, a beautiful, innovative manufacturing space opens.

130 jobs are retained in the town.  This company employs many residents of the town, who have homes and pay property taxes.  They and their co-workers spend money in the town and the surrounding county, increasing the town's sales tax revenue.  Property tax revenue increases because of the new manufacturing facility.

The company gets to stay in the town, which is the desire of the management, though they would have moved if they had to.  They get to maintain their close relationship with a local university that virtually spawned the company 30 years ago.  They not only get a beautiful and efficient manufacturing facility and world headquarters, but they plan to add about ten jobs per year for the foreseeable future.  By adding shifts they envision adding jobs beyond the 200 the facility can handle at one time.

Meanwhile some of the existing apartments within the sewer district already have plans to expand, now that they, too, can use their land previously required for septic systems.  Other nearby companies hook up to sewer.

Win, win, win, win.

This isn't just a fairy tale.  This really happened in Lansing.  The opening ceremony of Transonic System's world headquarters and manufacturing facility was last Monday.  They are staying here.  The president of the company told me that he doesn't think they will ever need to expand the building again because they can institute shifts.  If the current building can facilitate 200 workers at a time, it can facilitate 600 people in three shifts.  That's a lot of jobs.  And they are not "do you want fries with that?" jobs, but real, well paying jobs with real benefits.

OK, right, that's what I said about filling up my brand new 40 megabyte hard drive in 1990, and now I'm filling up terrabyte drives.  However, it will be a long time before they want to expand again, and lets face it-- they own the business park they are located in, so there will be options for staying.

Lansing does not need theoretical reasons to build its new proposed sewer project.  The Transonics story illustrates how it can benefit every taxpayer in Lansing.  Developers are chomping at the bit to begin building on land designated for a town center, which will focus denser development in the center of town, protecting farm land and preserving the character of the town by limiting and controlling the character and location of the changes.  Developers are ready to start building tomorrow if a sewer is constructed today.

I don't see property taxes going down in any meaningful way in my lifetime.  But the more properties there are to share that levy, the less money each property is billed.  So I am viewing sewer as possibly the only hope for lower tax rates, as are many leaders in the community.

Some people don't want sewer.  They say the Town is in bed with outside developers and current residents lose.  And they don't want to pay the cost.  I don't blame them -- sewer ain't cheap!  But there are also a lot of people in town who do want it, and see the long term value in it for the town, and more importantly, for themselves.  Those folks are calling the Town Hall asking when they can hook up.  So it's a mixed win for sewer district residents depending on how much they really want the service.

A couple of years ago town officials formed a committee that asked residents what they would want in a town center.  A lot of people responded.  So 'what the Town wants' isn't just theoretical -- people spoke up and told town officials what they want for Lansing's future.  Since then the Town government has worked to try to get those things.  Sewer is one of the keys to making them happen.

Sure, developers win if the sewer comes to Lansing, but so do all its residents.  Some of the developers who win are not Lansing or even Tompkins County people.  Even the ones who are develop for the money -- what do we expect?  Wouldn't we?  Does that even matter if the town also gets what it wants?  Would the Town get what it wants without them?

Sewer is already benefiting the Town of Lansing.  The Transonics Systems celebration Monday was a powerfully convincing event.  Not theory.  Actual, real benefits.  Win,win, win.

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