New water district may include Woods Highway residents

Feb 06, 2008 @ 09:43 PM

By CHINKI SINHA

Observer-Dispatch

NEW HARTFORD - About 20 residents who live on Woods Highway could see an increase in their tax bills if a water district is established in that area, town officials said.

The town plans to create a water district for the New Hartford Business Park, which is under development on Woods Highway. The water district could be extended to serve the nearby residents, who currently use wells and septic tanks, town officials said.

No cost estimate for the project was available Wednesday.

Jeff McMichael, who bought property on Woods Highway in 2002, spent about $7,000 on a well and septic tank, he said. He said he's concerned about the increased cost if the town runs water and sewer lines there.

“I don't see the justification,” he said. “I don't want my tax bills going up. Every year it's something.”

But Dianna Scarafile who lives across the road from McMichael is in favor of being in a water district and does not mind the extra cost.

“We need it on this road,” she said.

The town legally can create or expand water districts, but residents in those areas would have to pay for any services that may have to be created to serve their needs.

The water line for the business park would run near several of the homes on Woods Highway.

Town Councilman Richard B. Woodland Jr. plans to meet with the residents of Woods Highway to discuss the possibility of expanding the water district to serve their needs.

“I know residents have asked for it,” Woodland said. “We want to see what options are out there.”

If the residents are opposed to the expansion, they can file a petition with the town expressing their concerns.

The town also is looking to explore other alternatives to partly fund the creation of a water district. Woodland said federal grants may be available.

The business park's development made the creation of a water district vital, he said.

“I am not sure how it is going to be funded. The development is going to need it,” he said. “We want to see what options are out there.”

Several years ago, the town had looked into the possibility of creating a water district on Woods Highway. But it wasn't heavily populated then, said Woodland, the councilman for that area.