Residents on Sweden Walker Road
implore town board to study water issue

The Town of Sweden meeting on August 9 began with two residents asking again when, or if, they would ever get water at their residence.

Frank and Julie Lapinski, who live on Sweden Walker Road, have been asking the board for water for the past 12 years, they said.

"If the board would put forth any effort on our behalf, we'd have water," Frank said.

Town Supervisor Nat O. "Buddy" Lester III said town officials have done a great job in water district expansion.

"This board has done more for water district improvements than any board prior," he said. "But you have to remember, water district improvements are mandated and decided by whether residents meet the state threshold. This board would love to see everyone have water. There's nothing in it for us to deny anyone water."

Lester said the board can't be throwing taxpayer money around on engineering fees if the installation of a district won't be economically feasible.

Councilperson Tom Ferris said the board had spent $20,000 on engineering fees to investigate the feasibility of a water district for the area in which the Lapinskis reside. Officials said the area is about 2,500 feet long and encompasses 11-14 properties.

"The last time we investigated it the cost was close to $1,000 per parcel for the district and debt service amount that isn't allowed by the state," Lester said.

"To have to beg and plead, in 2005, to get water at our house is unacceptable," Julie Lapinski said.

Frank Lapinski said they've "accepted the fact that they will never get water."

The Lapinskis say they don't agree with the figures the town's engineer supplied and therefore worked up their own numbers based on a project completed on Gallup Road. "According to our figures it's feasible and affordable," they said.

"Can't you just accept that your engineer's figures were wrong?" Frank asked the board.

Ferris said he felt the Lapinski's numbers were deceptive. "We trust our engineer and our experts over your numbers, yes," he said.

The discussion grew heated at times when the Lapinskis said their not having water was politically motivated. Lester denied that there was anything politically motivated in the Lapinskis not having water at their residence.

Lester said, the bottom line is that, "It's not an affordable project for the taxpayers in that area."

In other matters at its August 9 meeting, the board scheduled a public hearing for September 27 to hear comments regarding the extension to the Sweden Consolidated Sewer District. The hearing will take place at 7 p.m.