The Town of Sweden mailed a water survey last week to all property owners without access to public water in the town. The purpose of the survey is to gather information to be used in a Rural Development water district expansion grant application.
It has been two years since Sweden completed the installation of the Lake/Redman Road water line. It was the Town’s intent to immediately pursue another project. However, Rural Development disallowed income surveys and, without that tool, Sweden did not qualify for another grant and low-interest loan package.
Sweden has now been determined to qualify for poverty-level funding without a water district income survey. The Town Board is working with the Town Engineer and Rural Development to identify a new project. The cost of water line expansion in Sweden is much higher than in neighboring towns because of the bedrock that gives rise to the Niagara Escarpment. Rural Development will not fund a project to water all of the town of Sweden, as it has in neighboring towns. Those projects in other towns generally total $10 million or less. To water all of the town Sweden will cost more than $40 million. Sweden will have to continue to break water expansion into fundable-size projects.
Forming a water district requires the support of the majority of property owners in the district. Most property owners have participated in other water surveys; those surveys will not help Sweden at this point. The new survey is crucial to choosing the next project for application to Rural Development. Other factors include well sampling results and engineering considerations.
Property owners are urged to complete the survey and return to the Sweden Town Hall by February 16. Property address and contact information is vital. Property owners who did not receive a survey or who have questions should contact the Finance Office at 637-7588 or email leisas@townofsweden.org and another survey will be mailed or emailed. Surveys can be mailed back, emailed to the above email or dropped at the Town Hall, 18 State Street, Brockport.
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