水果派AV

The Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority is seeking federal and state funding to advance the project, known as the Cayuga Lake Protection Plan. The Cayuga County Legislature voted in August to create a new sewer district in the towns of Genoa and Ledyard 鈥� a necessary step for the project and the pursuit of government funding.

The proposed sewer line would extend from south of the village of Aurora to the Tompkins County line. The nine-mile-long project would bring sewer service to lakeshore properties that now rely on septic and holding tanks.

But many of the property owners who spoke during the 45-minute meeting criticized the plan. Their complaints ranged from the cost of the project to its necessity.

Tim Carpenter, Syracuse operations manager for MRB Group, which is the authority's consultant for the project, explained that about half of the costs would be covered by federal and state funding 鈥� if those grant applications are approved by the appropriate entities. If the authority is awarded that funding, roughly 450 homeowners in the sewer district would be responsible for the remaining costs.

For property owners, they would pay an annual $1,400 capital charge and sewage use bills.

"We recognize that it's a large project and can only move forward if we get great grant funding applied by the state or federal government so it all doesn't get pushed down to homeowners," Carpenter said.

Once the authority learns whether the project will be funded by the federal and state governments, Carpenter said they would return to the sewer district residents with the updated figures. Residents could petition in support or opposition to the project, which would force a referendum vote.

Among the residents' critiques is that only those who are registered to vote at addresses within the sewer district would be eligible to cast ballots. Individuals who own seasonal properties there but are registered to vote elsewhere would not be eligible to vote in the referendum.

Karl Rindfleisch, director of operations for the Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority, noted that the towns of Genoa and Ledyard issued letters in support of the project. However, Ledyard Supervisor Mark Jordan said at the meeting that was contingent upon all residents being able to vote on the referendum.

Several residents also questioned why the current system of septic and holding tanks needs to be replaced. Rindfleisch told the audience that the state has been working to address water quality concerns, including the use of septic tanks, along the lakes.

But one attendee said the septic tanks are inspected by the Cayuga County Health Department. Another property owner noted septic systems contribute a small percentage of nutrient pollution in the lake compared to other sources, namely agriculture.

Although a vast majority of the attendees at the meeting oppose the project, Carpenter and Rindfleisch insisted there are other homeowners who support the project. But they acknowledged that the project's fate will be decided by the sewer district residents.