Monroe County Executive Jack Doyle has asked the county legislature to amend the 2001-2006 Capital Improvement Program to authorize financing for an increase and improvements of facilities relating to the capital project entitled Gates-Chili-Ogden Sewer District Improvements.

"The project will help the Village of Churchville eventually decommission their treatment plant eliminating any discharge and reducing pollutants in Black Creek and the area watershed," said Doyle. "The system change, consistent with the Monroe County Pure Waters plan, will result in favorable environmental improvements for the entire community and will help taxpayers avoid an expensive upgrade to the existing plant."

Approval of the request will provide for the planning, design, and construction of two pump stations and approximately 8.5 miles of force main and appurtenances to convey leachate and wastewater from the Mill Seat landfill and Village of Churchville in the Town of Riga, to the Gates-Chili-Ogden Sewer District's King Road trunk sewer near Union Street (NYS Route 259), in the Town of Chili.

"This project will also eliminate the landfill's dependency on hauling leachate off-site for treatment," said Doyle. "It will provide affordable wastewater disposal for the landfill and Village's existing and future flow rates for the next 20 years. Over time this translates into residential, commercial, and industrial growth. It may also limit negative impacts to open lands located in the Agricultural District," said Doyle.

The project, estimated to cost $4,000,000, will be funded from the existing capital fund and from the proposed $2,500,000 bond authorization. All project costs for sewerage facilities to serve the landfill and Village will be reimbursed by way of an inter-municipal agreement. Average user charges in the district would only increase approximately $2.82 as a result of the debt service for the program.

Portions of the project may become eligible for financing through the New York Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund.