Another water district for Urbana?
BY MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

HAMMONDSPORT - Plans for new and old water districts were on tap when the Urbana Town Board met Tuesday night.

Councilman James Pressley told the board Bully Hill and Heron Hill wineries want to take a second look at a 2005 plan to put in municipal water lines for their use.

Another winery and a spa may also be interested in hooking up to the line, Pressley said.

Pressley said the plan was put on the back burner while town officials attempted to establish a larger, second district, which was voted down by residents last year.

"A lot of mistakes were made," Pressley said. "I want to avoid mistakes this time."

The first step is to update the earlier engineering study and estimate the project's expense, he said.

Pressley said the businesses will likely contribute toward the project, and the town can apply for grants.

"But before we go anywhere with this, I want the board's support," he said. "It is going to cost the town money, taxpayers' money to go forward with economic development."

Town officials also need to redraw the original water district boundaries to include homes outside the lines now receiving municipal water, Pressley said.

The district includes the former Taylor Winery complex according to Pressley.

"The state Department of Health wants to get this cleared up," Pressley said.

The board unanimously approved a feasibility study for the new water project and appointed Pressley and Highway Superintendent David Buckley to come up with new boundaries for the first district.

In other action, the board:

• Approved the appointment of Robert McGee as a shared part-time code enforcement officer. McGee will work approximately 20 hours per week for the town and 10 hours per week for the village.

• Approved using a portion of donated funds to rent equipment for clean-up of the Curtiss Memorial Park.

• Agreed to consider uses for a vacant town barn located near the Curtiss park.