Urbana voters to decide future of water project
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

HAMMONDSPORT - About 200 Urbana town residents living along state Route 54 south of Hammondsport may go to the polls Monday to cast ballots on a proposed $6.5 million water project.

The project would extend water lines along state Route 54 to the Bath town line, servicing Urbana residents living in that corridor.

Urbana town Supervisor Richard Gardiner said voters in 2003 overwhelmingly approved a $4 million project that provided water to the same area. Gardiner said the cost of steel, petroleum and piping subsequently jumped by more than $2 million, forcing Monday's revised vote.

If approved, residents of the water district would pay $352 annually in capital costs, with annual payments increasing by $5 each year over the 30- year term of the financing.

The funding package includes $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a $2 million grant from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corp., and a $2 million loan from the state.

Gardiner noted residents of the district will vote specifically on extending the financial cost of the project by $2.5 million. "Of course, if they vote that down, there will be no project," he said.