TOWN OF STAFFORD SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
APRIL 15, 2024 DRAFT
Supervisor Clement opened the Special Town Board Meeting on April 15, 2024 at 7:00pm with the following present; Councilman Panek, Councilman Young, Councilman Duyssen, Councilman Pacer, and Town Clerk Radley, Highway Superintendent Boldt was absent.
Also in attendance was Eric Wies from Clark, Patterson & Lee and Bev and Richard Walthew.
Supervisor Clement read Resolution 30, Order for a Public Hearing on the Petition for Establishment of the Town of Stafford Water District No. 14.
There was a discussion about the Water District and how it will become a Water District.
The Final Map Plan and Report has the cost at $754 for the debt service and $324 for the total unit cost of $ 1078 and a total Estimated cost of $1080; this is for 12.5 units. These are preliminary costs at this point. We will not know the final cost until the bids are in.
The Town of Batavia is servicing the Town of Bethany and allows Clapsaddle and Fargo Roads to have a Water District in the Town of Stafford as well. We are looking for a targeted date of June 14, 2024 to start the preliminary paperwork for the project.
Two residents of Fargo Road conducted the door-to-door petition drive. Their efforts yielded 66% of the signatures and 59% overall. We only needed 51%; Thank you to Diane Miller and Dan Ratka for their efforts.
Councilman Panek made a motion to accept Resolution 30, second by Councilman Pacer, the motion passed by a Roll Call Vote.
Councilman Panek Yes
Councilman Young Yes
Councilman Duyssen Yes
Councilman Pacer Yes
Supervisor Clement Yes
RESOLUTION 30 DATED: APRIL 15, 2024
ORDER FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PETITION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
TOWN OF STAFFORD WATER DISTRICT NO. 14
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Stafford, New York, has duly adopted a resolution directing the Supervisor of the Town of Stafford to file a map, plan and report for providing the facilities, improvements or services in a portion of the Town of Stafford, where a Water District is proposed to be established; and said map, plan and report dated March 2024; has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Stafford on March 11, 2024, 2024, and
WHEREAS, a “Petition to Request Water District” was filed in the Stafford Town Clerk’s Office on April 15, 2024, signed by the required number of property owners within the proposed district, namely, pursuant to the latest completed assessment roll of the Town of Stafford, the owners of taxable real property located in the proposed Town of Stafford Water District No. 14 (also referred to herein as “Water District”) owning in the aggregate at least one-half (½) of the assessed valuation of all of the taxable real property of the proposed Water District; and also constituting the signatures of resident owners who own taxable real property aggregating at least one-half (½) of the assessed valuation of all of the taxable real property of the proposed Water District owned by residents, and
WHEREAS the boundary of the proposed Town of Stafford Water District No. 14 shall have an exterior boundary described in Appendix A, attached hereto, and incorporated herein by reference.
WHEREAS the project area has been identified through public interest and the proposed Water District will obtain its water supply from the Town of Bethany Water District No. 5 supply point. The Town of Bethany Water District No. 5 is to receive its water from the City of Batavia and the Monroe County Water Authority. Both the City of Batavia and the Monroe County Water Authority have ample capacity available to provide water for this project; and
WHEREAS the project will consist of installing approximately 2,500 linear feet of 8” water main along Fargo and Clapsaddle Roads, with construction taking place entirely within existing road rights-of-way or easements and property construction mitigation and restoration efforts will be implemented to residential and farmlands within the area based on standard practices common to the industry. and will serve approximately 12 residential properties; and
WHEREAS the project area is not currently served by any water district. The properties and property owners are presently served by private wells which have been reported by residents who experience insufficient quantity, poor water quality, high cost and concerns over inadequate fire protection; and
WHEREAS existing demand for the proposed service area is reported to be 1,644 gallons per day (gpd) on average, with a maximum day at 3,288 gpd and peak hour use of 6,576 gpd; and
WHEREAS residents of the Town of Stafford presently incur annual costs for private water treatment systems, the purchase of bottled water and offsite laundry services add between $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 each year to the cost of their private wells. Escalating health problems and water shortages for the residents would be anticipated in the absence of the proposed water district; and
WHEREAS the water system has been designed to provide safe, potable water to households, domestic and commercial use and to provide fire protection within the proposed service area; and
WHEREAS the total capital cost (estimated maximum amount) for the Town of Stafford Water District No. 14 is $530,000.00, which includes a 30% contingency; and
WHEREAS the debt service for the initial project costs is based on equivalent dwelling units and the Town of Stafford anticipates securing $318,000.00 in Water Infrastructure & Intermunicipal (WIIA) grant funds from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and a Loan with USDA Rural Development to partially finance the project at a 3% interest rate over a 38-year term. The Loan would carry annual debt service for the water district of $9,426.00, and $754.08 annually per unit to 12.5 units, with estimated yearly water cost of $324.00; and
WHEREAS a typical average household in Batavia uses 50,000 gallons of water per year and water rates for that usage shall be as follows:
The City of Batavia bills their customers quarterly. 2023 Rates include an effective rate of $6.48 per 1,000 gallons (6.48/1000 x 60,000 = 324.00); and
the total cost to homeowners for water would be $324.00 per year; and
WHEREAS, the payment of debt service will be made by levy and collection of special assessments from the several lots and proceeds of lands within the district which for the Town Board shall determine and specify to be specifically benefitted thereby, so much upon and from each as such shall be in just proportion of the amounts of benefit conferred upon the same, to pay the principal of and interest on said bonds, as same shall become due and payable; and
WHEREAS the total annual cost for an average homeowner including debt service and water bill would be estimated to be $1,080.00 per year, per household; and
WHEREAS, in addition each unit shall be responsible for several one-time costs, including cost to hookup and connect to the right-of-way to interior plumbing, (approximately $10.00 per linear foot) and well separation costs (approximately $500.00 – per unit); and
WHEREAS the map, plan and report describing such improvements is on file in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Stafford and available for public inspection.
NOW ON MOTION OF Councilman Panek which has been duly seconded by Councilman Pacer, therefore, it is
ORDERED, that the Town Board of the Town of Stafford acknowledges receipt of and accepts the Petition for the Establishment of Water District No. 14 signed by the required residents owning in the aggregate, at least one-half (1/2) of the assessed valuation of all the taxable real property within the proposed Water District No. 14; and it is further
ORDERED, that the Town Board of the Town of Stafford accepts the Map, Plan and Report dated April 2024 from Clark Patterson and Lee which outlines the proposed Water District No. 14 project; and it is further
ORDERED, that the Town Board of the Town of Stafford, New York, shall hold a Public Hearing at the Stafford Town Hall, located at 8903 Route 237, Stafford, New York on the 20th day of May, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on the proposal to establish said Water District with the improvements specified herein, at which time and place all persons interested in the subject thereof, along with any environmental impacts of same under SEQR may be heard concerning the same, and it is further
ORDERED, and acknowledged that establishment of Water District No. 14 will be subject to the approval of the Office of the New York State Comptroller; and it is further
ORDERED, that the Town Clerk of the Town of Stafford is hereby authorized and directed to publish a copy of this Order in The Daily News, to post a copy of the same on the signboard of the Town of Stafford and to mail a copy to all owners of property located within the proposed Water District, in the time and manner required by law.
DATED: April 15, 2024 __________________________
Barbara Radley, Clerk
[SEAL] Town of Stafford
Approved on Roll Call as follows:
Supervisor Robert Clement X Yes __ No __ Abstain __ Absent
Councilmember Ronald Panek X Yes __ No __ Abstain __ Absent
Councilmember Terry Young X Yes __ No __ Abstain __ Absent
Councilmember James Duyssen X Yes __ No __ Abstain __ Absent
Councilmember Robert Pacer X Yes __ No __ Abstain __ Absent
Supervisor Clement made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:46pm second by Councilman Duyssen and passed with a 5-0 vote.
Respectfully Submitted
Barbara Radley
Town Clerk/Tax Collector