April 2, 2015
C’ville to add properties to sewer line
CORTLANDVILLE — Residents struggling with aging septic tanks on the south side of town could get some relief by the end of the summer after the Town Board advanced plans Wednesday to connect homes to the town sewer system.
Funding must still be secured for the project and a public hearing held.
In August, the board received a petition from Sheila and Don Williams on behalf of their neighbors reviving a request they had made 12 years ago for the town to extend sewer lines to their area.
Just under a mile of pipeline would need to be installed to connect residents.
In 2002, residents said due to problems with aging septic tanks, they wanted the town to connect residents along Oakcrest and Pendleton streets and Saunders Road into a public sewer line.
For some reason, no progress was made. But since receiving the petition, the town has been looking into the issue and working with engineers and consultants to address the problem.
On Wednesday, Town Attorney John Folmer said he recently completed an environmental assessment form for the project, which he said would not have a significant impact on the environment. Therefore a “Type II” action under the state environmental quality review, or SEQR process, was needed.
“A Type II action can be an expansion of utility distribution facilities including gas, electric, telephone, cable, water and sewer connections,” Folmer said.
Folmer added the board needed to adopt a resolution determining the project a Type II action so no further SEQR reviews are required, which the board did Wednesday.
Town Supervisor Dick Tupper said during the meeting that surveyors are assessing the topography of the neighborhood and identifying where sewer lines would be placed.
After the meeting, Tupper said the town is in the process of securing funding for both the sewer project and another project that involves installing just over a mile of public water lines on Luker Road.
“We’re going to run a water line the full length of Luker Road,” Tupper said. “Luker Road, somehow, is the only road that’s anywhere near the town well and somehow we never ran water on it.”
Tupper said the town will have to borrow money and is still looking into how much both projects will cost so the board can bond for the full amount all at once though the projects are separate.
Funding through the state Environmental Facilities Corp., which helps local governments with funding specifically for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, may be considered, Tupper said, but the town is hoping to do business with local banks.
“All the draft design work (and) cost estimates have been done,” Tupper said. “The last couple of times we’ve done something like this, it’s (lenders) been local. We’re hoping some of the local banks will bid on it.”
Tupper said he was hoping work would begin in May, but the rough winter made it difficult for surveyors and others to do their jobs. He hopes the projects will be completed by the end of the summer.
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