THROOP - The proposed water district in the town of Throop is finally taking shape after a few changes and setbacks. During a work session, Chatfield Engineers presented and discussed the new water perimeters at the town board meeting Monday night.
The proposal had been reduced to two phases from three, but some board members wondered if the whole project could be handled as a unit. The most recent estimate is $903 per household per year for a two-phase project. If the whole project was done with one grant, the cost per household would be $1,032 per year.
After some informal discussion, the board heard engineer Paul Chatfield recommend following a two-step plan, applying for a USDA Rural Development grant for the 73 households that would be affected in the Phase 1 portion of the water line plan in order to receive a maximum grant of $500,000.
Chatfield said that once an application was made for Phase 1, the Phase 2 application could be immediately made, which would receive a maximum of $171,000. He noted if the entire area was applied for in the same grant, each of the 73 households would be paying an extra $127 per year over a period of 38 years until the debt was paid.
By the Jan. 14 town board meeting, engineers will put together a base map with boundaries and will hold off the final description needed for grant submission. The public will be informed and able to ask questions. Engineering costs for Phase 1 will be $2,500 and $2,000 for Phase 2.
The board will not hold a public hearing until the town hears from the grant application as to how much money it is actually going to receive.
If the board decides to handle the project in two phases, the first would include an area along Turnpike Road from McDonald Road to Donovan Road and extensions north and south: from 7020 Canoga Road to 7305 Donovan Road; from Nugent and Cross Road to 7387 Northrup Road; and from Youngs Road and Turnpike to Griffin Road, east to McDonald and south back to Turnpike.
“People from Powers Road are afraid they're going to be left out,” Mike Vitale, town councilor, said. “They think the grant money is going to disappear from the state.”
Town supervisor William Tarby wondered if the project might benefit from funding expected to come down from the federal government for infrastructures. Chatfield cautioned such funding would probably go to projects that are farther along.
“Paul, guide us on this part,” Cheryl Guarglia, town councilor, said, “We've gotten such mixed reviews from Powers Road. Half want it and half don't.”
“I think the town has done due diligence,” Chatfield said with regard to costs and grant funding. He advised the board to make a decide on the direction and let the people decide whether to include Powers Road.
Richard Signorelli, town councilor, wondered if both grants could be applied for at the same time, but Chatfield said they would be competing against each other. A small cities grant is based on income eligibility.
Once the first phase grant is gone, the second project is contingent on receiving a second grant. If it's a USDA grant, Phase II could only receive a maximum of 45 percent of the first grant ($171,000).
Chatfield advised the board that if residents on Powers Road are income eligible, the application for a small cities grant is due April 1. That would mean the town needs to send income surveys out quickly.
The town has two methods to choose from with regard to district formation, Chatfield said. It can act and have residents vote in a permissive referendum, or it can circulate a petition to the households affected. If 51 percent of those holding a deed to the property vote in favor of forming a district, then no vote is needed.
Some issues such as rates paid by people who live in a water district but don't receive water, need to be resolved and town attorney Norman Chirco,will have to draw up a petition if the town picks that option.
Board members will likely present proposals for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 at the next meeting.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or
kathleen.barran@lee.net
After some informal discussion, the board heard engineer Paul Chatfield recommend following a two-step plan, applying for a USDA Rural Development grant for the 73 households that would be affected in the Phase 1 portion of the water line plan in order to receive a maximum grant of $500,000.
Chatfield said that once an application was made for Phase 1, the Phase 2 application could be immediately made, which would receive a maximum of $171,000. He noted if the entire area was applied for in the same grant, each of the 73 households would be paying an extra $127 per year over a period of 38 years until the debt was paid.
By the Jan. 14 town board meeting, engineers will put together a base map with boundaries and will hold off the final description needed for grant submission. The public will be informed and able to ask questions. Engineering costs for Phase 1 will be $2,500 and $2,000 for Phase 2.
The board will not hold a public hearing until the town hears from the grant application as to how much money it is actually going to receive.
If the board decides to handle the project in two phases, the first would include an area along Turnpike Road from McDonald Road to Donovan Road and extensions north and south: from 7020 Canoga Road to 7305 Donovan Road; from Nugent and Cross Road to 7387 Northrup Road; and from Youngs Road and Turnpike to Griffin Road, east to McDonald and south back to Turnpike.
“People from Powers Road are afraid they're going to be left out,” Mike Vitale, town councilor, said. “They think the grant money is going to disappear from the state.”
Town supervisor William Tarby wondered if the project might benefit from funding expected to come down from the federal government for infrastructures. Chatfield cautioned such funding would probably go to projects that are farther along.
“Paul, guide us on this part,” Cheryl Guarglia, town councilor, said, “We've gotten such mixed reviews from Powers Road. Half want it and half don't.”
“I think the town has done due diligence,” Chatfield said with regard to costs and grant funding. He advised the board to make a decide on the direction and let the people decide whether to include Powers Road.
Richard Signorelli, town councilor, wondered if both grants could be applied for at the same time, but Chatfield said they would be competing against each other. A small cities grant is based on income eligibility.
Once the first phase grant is gone, the second project is contingent on receiving a second grant. If it's a USDA grant, Phase II could only receive a maximum of 45 percent of the first grant ($171,000).
Chatfield advised the board that if residents on Powers Road are income eligible, the application for a small cities grant is due April 1. That would mean the town needs to send income surveys out quickly.
The town has two methods to choose from with regard to district formation, Chatfield said. It can act and have residents vote in a permissive referendum, or it can circulate a petition to the households affected. If 51 percent of those holding a deed to the property vote in favor of forming a district, then no vote is needed.
Some issues such as rates paid by people who live in a water district but don't receive water, need to be resolved and town attorney Norman Chirco,will have to draw up a petition if the town picks that option.
Board members will likely present proposals for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 at the next meeting.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or
kathleen.barran@lee.net
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