FORESTVILLE – A request from the Chautauqua County Health Department to postpone the date that the old water springs are disconnected was met with hesitation by Forestville’s mayor.
At the regular meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Kevin Johnson said he was not in favor of waiting longer to decommission the springs for several reasons. The request to delay the action came as a result that five residents in the Creek Road area do not have an alternative water source. Johson said the residents are applying for grant funding and it will not be available by the June 15 date when the village plans to discontinue use of the springs.
“We have given residents there several months notice and even absolved them of their bills so they could apply their water payments towards getting another water source,” the mayor said.
Johnson also said that the date for turning off the springs was also part of the village’s grant application. He said he replied to the county with a letter that requests payment for the village to maintain the springs and exact locations of the five residents on Creek Road.
The mayor estimated that the cost of maintaining the old water source in addition to the new one could cost between $15,000 and $30,000.
“We would be happy to help, but not at the expense of the village,” the mayor said. He also said the village plans to move forward with plans to cut and sell timber from the land where the springs are located.
In another matter, the Village Board agreed to set a new rate for water users who have a meter larger than the one-inch residential meter. Commercial meters will be charged at a rate of $80 per inch, based on the diameter of the connecting pipe. The schools and one business are currently the only locations for larger meters. The meter charge is billed six times a year.
Members set a public hearing on May 27 at 7:05 p.m. to apply for a grant for $50,000 which requires a five percent local share. The grant is for a planning study on village storm systems.
At the regular meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Kevin Johnson said he was not in favor of waiting longer to decommission the springs for several reasons. The request to delay the action came as a result that five residents in the Creek Road area do not have an alternative water source. Johson said the residents are applying for grant funding and it will not be available by the June 15 date when the village plans to discontinue use of the springs.
“We have given residents there several months notice and even absolved them of their bills so they could apply their water payments towards getting another water source,” the mayor said.
Johnson also said that the date for turning off the springs was also part of the village’s grant application. He said he replied to the county with a letter that requests payment for the village to maintain the springs and exact locations of the five residents on Creek Road.
The mayor estimated that the cost of maintaining the old water source in addition to the new one could cost between $15,000 and $30,000.
“We would be happy to help, but not at the expense of the village,” the mayor said. He also said the village plans to move forward with plans to cut and sell timber from the land where the springs are located.
In another matter, the Village Board agreed to set a new rate for water users who have a meter larger than the one-inch residential meter. Commercial meters will be charged at a rate of $80 per inch, based on the diameter of the connecting pipe. The schools and one business are currently the only locations for larger meters. The meter charge is billed six times a year.
Members set a public hearing on May 27 at 7:05 p.m. to apply for a grant for $50,000 which requires a five percent local share. The grant is for a planning study on village storm systems.