Hamlin pulls plug on own water district operation

Hamlin pulls plug on own water district operation

By a vote of three to two, Town of Hamlin officials decided to make a switch from participation in the Hamlin-Kendall Water Authority to the Monroe County Water Authority at a meeting April 10.

At the April 10 board meeting, Supervisor Denny Roach said that the town had been offered an opportunity by the MCWA for a 40-year lease for the operation of the town's water system. The town has operated previously in an agreement with the Town of Kendall that has supplied water and service to residents.

"This has been a difficult decision and we've labored over it," Roach said. "It seems more economically feasible to lease our services to MCWA."

Roach pointed out that the town has hosted several meetings, many of them joint with Kendall, since the beginning of December. "We've offered residents the opportunity to be heard and once we supplied facts and figures, there hasn't been a public outcry."

Councilman Paul Rath said, "MCWA isn't going to go away, they will still be there if we decide to make this change later," he said. "The costs seem to show that we can afford to maintain and continue supporting our own water district, even if we have to pass along modest rate increases."

Councilman David Rose pointed out that the existing water district is about $35,000 in arrears. "Even if we figure in a rate increase we will still be in arrears," he said. "If we don't make the switch, we will have to expend more money on repairs to the lines, equipment and possibly a full time clerk. Overall, I can't see how we can afford to not make the switch (to MCWA)."

Roach said the towns had increased rates to reflect changes in the wholesale rates they receive from MCWA (from which they purchase water now) but the current district never raised rates to keep pace with salaries, fuel and equipment costs.

"We've had three meetings that were not all that well attended. I haven't had people calling me or coming to the office to protest the change," Roach said. "I don't think people are all that concerned. I don't share the emotional issue of losing control of our water district."

Roach said he has spoken to others who have MCWA as their supplier and hasn't heard any negative comments as to the quality of service or response time offered by MCWA. "From a financial and practical point of view, it's beneficial for us to make the switch to MCWA," Roach said.

As part of the deal with the change over, there is an allocation of $850,000 for improvements to the existing water system, Roach said. Rath expressed concern that the money could be "nickel and dimed" away if minor changes and improvements were made here and there, he said.

"It's a difficult decision but our duty is to the residents," Roach said. "The sign of an effective government is not unanimous consent, but for us to have done the research and made our feelings known."

Councilman George Todd said the change to MCWA makes sense from a financial standpoint. "They have more resources than we do and if there is a water main break, or problem, there are a lot more customers so spread the cost of repairs over."

Rath said that talk of increases in rates now was misleading. "We didn't have these discussions before and no numbers were brought forth before we went to the public," he said.

Town of Kendall Supervisor William Vick said now that Hamlin has made its choice, Kendall officials will be able to make decisions based on known parameters. "Up until this point we've been in a position where we really couldn't make decisions but now that Hamlin has, our options have been reduced to two - operate our own district or switch to MCWA," he said.

Vick advised town board members at the April 13 board meeting but will not make any decision until, at the earliest, the April 27 meeting. "We're going to have to research the costs and address any problems that have arisen from this decision," he said.