LOWVILLE — The village has filed legal action against Lewis County over a tax-exemption dispute on the village’s water filtration facility.

A state Supreme Court lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the Lewis County clerk’s office by village attorney Mark G. Gebo, asks a judge to reinstate a March 1998 agreement between the village and county allowing for a full tax exemption on the town of Watson treatment plant.

The suit argues that a county decision in August to gradually remove tax exemptions on any village utility properties is superseded by the 1998 deal, suggesting the exemption should remain as long as the parcel continues its public use.

“The Village has no plans to discontinue the use of this water treatment facility at this time or any time in the foreseeable future,” it states.

A couple of weeks ago, village trustees authorized Mr. Gebo to file the suit.

County attorney Richard J. Graham has suggested that board decisions should not be binding to future boards.

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