Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Water District #5 Referendum Vote
Alden
Town Hall 9am-8pm
Unofficial Results
235 yes
280 no
Referendum not passed
If you did not read Eric Chaffee's
info on how to increase or improve your water, you should. Comments have been made by readers that using his suggestions have made great a difference in their well water. Info -
New information that will raise your cost from Jim Guarino .
As a result of my inquiry to Town of Alden Tax Assessor Bill Sivecz, in regard to Water district fees on farm land in an Agricultural District, I found out that the Town was interpreting the Agricultural District Law in a manner that was contrary to the Law. I asked Dr. Robert Somers of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for help in clarifying the law for the Town. Through Dr. Somers inquiries to the Office of Real Property Services, ORPS has sent the Town a letter advising them of the law and how they should proceed. The Ag District Law states that no extra municipal fees can be assessed on farm land in an Ag. District. This will increase the amount of exempt property, and also increase the per-parcel cost of WD5 for non-exempt properties. Letter from ORPS
Letter from concerned resident Eric Chaffee on FACTS
The Town of Alden town board passed resolution for a referendum on creating water district #5. Detail of cost in the resolution can be found in the Map Plan Report for the typical homeowner. This is the formula the Town can charge for formation of the WD #5 to the homeowner. I have compiled a cost for each homeowner in WD#5 using the formula from the Map Plan Report. You can verify your maximum cost by contacting the Town of Alden assessor and asking him for the cost as detailed in the Map Plan Report. This cost is $8.01/$1000 plus the road frontage and $200 unit charge. You are voting that this cost is acceptable.
The Town Board has indicated they expect funding from the US Department of Rural Development. Here is the USDA funding notice letter. Note, no interest rate is mentioned and this is not a commitment for funding. I have recalculated the cost with the funding included. The cost would be $6.10/1000. I have used the same interest rate 4.125%
Your yearly calculated cost found here (last two columns)
USDA link http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ny
Cost of this project from MAP PLAN REPORT is $10,556,625.00. Cost to finance over 38 years at a rate of 4.125% the finance cost is $10,366,476.96.
TOTAL PROJECT COST $$$$ 20,923,101.96 when completely paid in full.
Or a cost of $804,734.69 per mile for the 26 miles of road in the district.
From the Map-Plan-Report and letter from the New York Office of Real Property Services, accuracy of the cost to homeowner is in question. Property assessments used may be inacurrate.In addition who is eligible to vote is also in question. Alden Watch Dog will post the Towns reply. The town has replied to both. You can here the replies by watching the Town Board meeting 3/16/09 video on the video page.
New York Office of Real Property Services letter regarding WD#5 cost to agricultural land
Great information on how to improve or increase your water supply if your on a well. This is a must read of first hand knowledge from Alden resident Eric Chaffee.
This is the completed Water District #5 Map Plan Report
Alternative to creating a water district, USDA funds available to help homeowners with wells http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/HWWSP.htm
Water District #5 2/17/09 MEETING ORDER
Water District #5 Full Legal Description
Water District #5 Line Map
Water District #5 SEQR
Water District #5 Fact Sheet
Water District #5 Map
Water District #5 FAQ
