PAGE ADDED ON December 13, 2009

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Lincoln to Conduct Water Survey

Town to Mail Questionnaires Before Christmas

Martha E. Conway

(Lincoln – Dec. 9, 2009) Town officials are seeking input from residents regarding whether they would like water-on-demand. Some Town of Lincoln residents should expect to receive a survey from the Lincoln Town Council before Christmas; town officials are asking for its return before Jan. 4.

Supervisor Darrin P. Ball said he received documents from Barton & Loguidice, engineers for Madison County working on a project to bring water to the landfill property on Buyea Road in anticipation of construction of a commercial/industrial park. He said the county is planning to pay $2 to $3 million for installation of that waterline, which will serve the proposed Agriculture and Renewable Energy Park.

Ball said he felt town residents could benefit from the work already performed at no cost to the town.

“They are already into [the project] for about $800,000,” Ball said.

So far, that money has paid for things such as planning, engineering, legal services and soil bores for the project, which would bring the waterline from the five corners area of the city of Oneida, Ball said.

“So far, this has not cost the town of Lincoln taxpayers a nickel,” Ball said. “I don’t have a good cost comparison to other communities yet, but we’re working on it.”

According to Ball, a grant application for help with the project was denied for the proposed ARE Park.

“But the engineers and the county feel there is a pocket of money still left out there,” Ball said. “I know that a lot of us here have seen a lot of requests and inquiries for water. One of the suggestions they made to me – and I agree with – is to put out a survey and questionnaire to residents so they can tell us about problems with their water, whether they want water, don’t want water, what they would be willing to pay to get it and get feedback and guidance from our residents going forward.”

Ball said it is hoped the survey will help demonstrate interest in areas of denser population to make the project affordable. Councilman Ron McClain said he understood a lot of legwork had already been done at no cost to the town.

“But where is the rest of the money coming from?” McClain asked.

Ball said he didn’t have any firm numbers on the cost of any potential project.

“This is just basically a questionnaire,” Ball said. “Are people really interested? We don’t have any idea right now.”

McClain said he suggested trying to sign up as many people as possible to keep costs down.

With the help of the county, B&L and Onondaga County Water Authority, the town has identified four areas well-populated enough to possibly support a water district.

“The blue area [the hamlet of Clockville] is a prime concentrated area,” Ball said, referring to the map. “There have been a lot of requests from Nelson Road, too.”

OCWA helped the town develop a questionnaire for residents to help the town better determine whether water service is desired by the majority.

“This is the survey they’ve presented us with,” Ball said. “I’ve had them add a few questions, and I am looking for guidance for the best areas to send the survey.”

After studying the map for a few minutes, Councilman Wayne Hertel said he agreed with McClain.

“Like Ron said, the more people you have, the better,” Hertel said.

In order to form a water district, more than 50 percent of the property owners and more than 50 percent of the assessed value must be in favor of the district formation. The cost of forming the district is spread out amongst the property owners contained within the district. Those choosing not to hookup to the waterline still are charged a portion of the capital costs but do not pay usage fees.

The board recommended the survey be sent to residents of all four areas identified.

“My comfort level would be much better if we got positive comments…good feedback from the public and a healthy contribution on behalf of the county,” Ball said. “I’m definitely not afraid to go beat on doors to get it – I would do that to benefit the residents of the town of Lincoln. Nobody on this board, myself included, is going to make a hasty decision that adversely impacts any of our residents.”

Ball said there will always be people who aren’t interested in infrastructure improvements such as a water district for a variety of reasons.

“There’s always going to be someone out there who maybe just put in a new well or put money into a new water treatment system who may not need it right now,” Ball said. “We want to do our job the best we can to get those capital costs as low as possible. Personally, I think this is some data we’ve all been looking for for awhile. Maybe we’ll get the results back and 40 percent of the people don’t want it.”

Ball said the surveys would be mailed by Dec. 20 to town residents in the approximate area from the Lenox town line in the north to slightly south of Cottons Road, Old County Road and Timmerman Road in the south; and from just west of Nelson Road to Fairview Avenue in the east.

For more information, call the Lincoln Town Offices at 697.8837.

The questions

Where do you get your water?

Do you occasionally run out of water?

Do you ever need to buy bulk water?

Have you ever tested your well water?

Has your well ever been contaminated?

Do you drink your well water?

The taste of your well water is?

Do you treat, filter or soften water?

My estimated annual treatment cost is?

Are you concerned about fire protection?

I would be in favor of public water, but only at a total annual user cost, including OCWA water use charge, of (choose range)

2 Comments on "Lincoln to Conduct Water Survey"

Charles Page on Sun, 13th Dec 2009 9:06 am

A former resident of Lincoln for more than 50 years, I would welcome the survey and consider the idea.
Due to large amounts of iron in well water, I went through three or four water softeners/conditioners during those years. Of course, cost would be a limiting factor.
I would want it to go from 5 carners area south on Creek Road as far as population justifies–probably at least as far as Burleson Hill Road and maybe farther. Lots of houses along there.

Rosanne Warner on Mon, 14th Dec 2009 1:26 pm

Just to clarify the issue. The water line would be extended from the Oxbow Road OCWA line. Not the City of Oneida’s existing water line at 5 corners. The county has proposed the construction of a dedicated sewer line from the 5 corners to the county landfill.

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Lincoln to Conduct Water Survey

Town to Mail Questionnaires Before Christmas

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