Riga discusses need, costs for water

Riga discusses need, costs for water

Town of Riga residents learned what expanding public water might cost them, and how long it might take to get it during a public information meeting on Wednesday, May 16 at the Churchville-Chili Intermediate School Auditorium. Town Engineer Paul Chatfield and Special Counsel Marcia Havens gave a presention on the findings of a Water Feasibility Study to a crowd of about 100 people.

The Riga Town Board authorized the study which was completed with the assistance of a water advisory committee made up of citizens and chaired by Riga Town Council Member Kenneth Kuter. The study, which took nine months to complete, included an evaluation of potential service areas, a review of alternatives and preliminary cost estimates.

At the meeting, Chatfield said 292 homes in the Town of Riga and 366 parcels currently have no public water. The committee identified 27 areas or roads which are in need of public water. The possible water project would include 122,730 linear feet of water main and would cost an estimated $7.6 million.

Those in attendance received an information packet that included a detailed summary of costs without grants or landfill revenues. The summary estimates the average annual cost to property owners with homes with an assessed value of $135,000 to be $1,419. Chatfield also broke the project down into nine alternate areas formed from the original 27 individual areas which were connected or in close proximity to each other. The summary included a break down of costs for each.

Chatfield described to residents the responsibilities of homeowners who have public water and the advantages of public water systems. He said it was unlikely that the project would qualify for state or federal grants, but that the town would be eligible for low-interest loans. The figures in the summary of costs were based on a funding scenario of 4.75 percent USDA Rural Development Loan for 38 years. Municipal bonds carry 5 to 6 percent interest rates and terms of 20 to 25 years, Chatfield said.

Marcia Havens, special counsel, discussed legal options for the expansion of public water. During the meeting she described the creation of water districts and water district extensions, which the town has used up until now. She also described an alternative method of creating a water improvement benefit area, which she said had been used in the Town of Chili.

The main difference between the two is that in a water district, costs are paid by property owners where the water lines are installed, in the water improvement benefit alternative, costs are divided between property owners and town residents who do not live where new lines are placed. The Village of Churchville would be excluded, Havens said.

Havens also discussed the special assessments paid by residents who receive public water. She said the average special assessment of $1,419 for a home with a $135,000 assessed valuation does not include the cost of water which would be about $244 annually.

She described the process of water district formation and also discussed the Town of Riga's Home Rule Message. Havens said a draft of the Message has been sent to the counsels of the NYS Assembly and Senate and that if it is approved by the state legislature, would allow revenues from the landfill to be used for water project costs.

In a question-and-answer session following the presentation, residents asked how long it might be before they had public water. Chatfield described the process which includes approval by the NYS Comptroller, securing funding, preparing of plans and specifications, approvals and easements, bidding and construction phases. He said the entire process could take from three to seven years.

Kuter thanked the residents who volunteered to work on the committee. He said public water is the number one issue for residents based on surveys done by the town. He said the town board will continue to work on the water issue during workshops and stressed the importance of the approval of the Home Rule Message as a source of funding.

Town Supervisor Pamela Moore attended the meeting. She stressed how critical Home Rule Message approval is. "I am extremely pleased that we've gotten to this point," she said. "Now that the technical analysis is out of the way, we have opened up a dialogue and can move forward."