OWASCO - Havens Avenue, divided by city and town, was a point of difference at the Owasco Town Board meeting this week as town residents hedged at switching to Auburn's alternate-side parking rules.

The Owasco Town Board considered adopting a new local law, amending its own law that doesn't allow parking on public streets during the winter, at the request of Gerald DelFavero, Auburn director of public works.

At a public hearing Thursday night, Havens Avenue residents living in Owasco complained about factors ranging from nuisance to safety as cars might park on their side of the street.

Some residents said they couldn't see how changing this law would benefit the city, which has 23 homes on the street, and they maintained it certainly would not benefit Owasco residents. The board considered the possibility of passing the law and rescinding it later if there were problems, but they ultimately unanimously voted the law down.

Water rates, however, are scheduled to go up as of Dec. 12, as the town passed a new “schedule of charges and water rates.” Town Supervisor John Klink noted that Barton & Loguidice engineering firm had done a study recommending that increases in water and sewer rates should be made to meet costs.

They also recommended making the increase in a single step as opposed to increments and that the town should begin to build a reserve account for future costs.

“For the last several years as much money has been going out as coming in,” Klink said. “Now it shows a negative.”

Water rate increases are due primarily to increased costs to operate and maintain the Owasco water plant and water pipes, according to Klink.

Sewer rate increases are due to increases in Auburn charges to Owasco for sewage treatment, increased operation and maintenance of sewer infrastructure, as well as a need for a reserve fund.

Board member Michael Richardson noted that rates hadn't been raised in eight years, saying “Increases are really only enough to cover costs; there's not much for the reserve. Any repairs will have to come from the reserve.”

The town unanimously voted to establish new sewer rates for Sewer District No. 1 and any extensions to this district as of Dec. 12, 2008.

A minimum usage customer's water and sewer quarterly bill will increase a total of $10 per quarter, Klink said. An average usage customer's quarterly bill (based on 2000 units) would increase a total of $20 per quarter.

Also, per agreement of June 27, 2007, 3 cents per 100 cubic feet of water will be charged to all customers and water users for the town of Owasco's contribution to the cost of the watershed inspector for Owasco Lake.

The town also unanimously resolved to support Cayuga County's SARA grant application for a cooperative, inter-municipal e-government project, Web GIS to create a pubic real property Web-based service. No funding is required from the town for the project's development.

Alan Kozlowski, real property tax services director for Cayuga County, spoke to the town about getting grant money if the town would look at assessing options. He noted the need for a server with a high-speed Internet connection like FIOS in the town that might connect with the system now in the County Office Building.

He cited a $125,000 grant the county is applying for by Feb. 28, 2009.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net