Vote In May Likely About Louisville Water District 3

LOUISVILLE - Residents of Louisville residing in Water District 3 will likely be heading to the polls in May to decide the fate of the proposed $9.2 million project.

This past November the town held an informational meeting, where the project received near unanimous support from those in attendance. A similar meeting is set for Feb. 13 in Norfolk. A small portion of the project falls within Norfolk's town lines.

Earlier this week, following an update from Timothy Burley, an engineer from Burley, Guminak & Associates, who is designing the project, Louisville's town board voted unanimously to move forward with the process, naming themselves as the lead agency for the State Environmental Quality Review.

"Essentially we've already done the environmental on this project, but we figured we should do this again because maybe someone could take issue with the fact it's two-years-old," Mr. Burley said, adding, "I don't anticipate any changes."

Following the completion of the SEQR process late next month, Mr. Burley is recommending both municipalities hold special meetings in late February to adopt the SEQR. setting the wheels in motion for both the public hearings and project vote, with the hearings expected sometime in mid-March.

Following the hearings, Mr. Burley said there is a 60 to 75 day window when the referendum must be held, setting up a two-week window in mid-May for the vote.

With the town waiting to find out whether they'll receive a $2 million grant from the New York state Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Town Supervisor Larry R. Legault asked if they would have know if they had been awarded the grant prior to the public vote.

While Mr. Burley said he couldn't be certain, he said those grants are typically announced in May.

Should the town receive the grant, it will lower the per household cost from $707 per year to $595.

The water district will encompass uncovered portions of the Willard Road. Service will also begin at the town's office complex and continue along state Route 37 to Steve's Gas before turning down County Route 39 into Louisville, covering the entire hamlet and expanding onto the Thompson Ridge Road to state Route 56, ending at the Norfolk town line.

The district will also extend onto West Hatfield Street, wrapping around state Route 37 and back to state Route 56, picking up several Norfolk residents at that point.