Public Informational Meeting
on Proposed Sewer District #2

July 13, 2006

Supervisor Belden opened the meeting at 6:30pm.

Town Board members Dan Belden, Dick Gladu and Edna Frasier were present along with Town Attorney Dominick Viscardi

Panel Members present were Bill Lamy, Warren County Sewer Administrator and Vern Ingraham and Robert Flores from Clough Harbour & Associates.

About 75 town residents attended the meeting.

Bill Lamy gave the background of the sewer district. The Town saw a need to extend the sewer in both directions but did not have enough funds. Now that Queensbury has not used the money from the original grant there is money available which Hague has requested.

A PowerPoint presentation was given by Clough Harbour.

Public Meeting to Secure Input Regarding Proposed Sewer
July 13, 2006 by Clough Harbour & Associates, LLP

Project Team
Town Supervisor – Dan Belden
Town Clerk – Deborah Manning
Town Board Members:
Richard Gladu Edna Frazier
Arthur Steitz Thomas LaPointe
Town Attorney – Dominick Viscardi, Esq.
Warren County Sewer Administration – Bill Lamy, P.E.
Engineer – Clough Harbour & Associates LLP (CHA)
Key People Presenting
Dan Belden – Hague Town Supervisor
Bill Lamy, P.E. – Warren County Sewer Administrator
Vern Ingraham, P.E. – CHA Partner
Robert Flores, P.E. – CHA Sr. Project Engineer
Background
Hague Sewer District #1 is Complete
$3,085,000 EPA Grant Remains
WWTP Capacity Available
EPA Accepts Sewer District #2 Concept

Proposed Sewer District Boundary Considers Key Factors
Reasonable District Boundary: Constructability, Affordability, Lake Water Quality, Public Health
Wastewater Collection Utilizes Low Pressure Sewers
4.7 Miles of 1.5 to 4-inch HDPE Pipe
139 Sewer Connections/Grinder Pumps*
1 Main System Pump Station

* Town provides grinder pump and service connection at right-of-way.
Property owner responsible for installation and hook-up.

Sewer District Creation Has a Defined Process
1) Public Hearing
2) Permissive Referendum if OK
3) Town Adopts Resolution Approving District
4) Bond Resolution

Common Concerns with District Creation

Must be property owner to vote
Husband and wife with joint ownership on deed _ Each can vote
Absentee voting is not permitted by NYS
Costs shared by Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs)
EDU Assessment Schedule
Vacant Land Adjacent to Proposed Sewer District:
0.1 EDU if property is ≤1 acre
if property is greater than 1 acre, 0.1 EDU plus 0.1 EDU per ten acres (not including first acre)

Vacant Land not Adjacent to Proposed Sewer District: 0.05 EDU
Vacant Land Non-buildable per Existing Zoning: 0.0 EDU Requirements

Single Family Homes including Church Parsonages and Mobile Homes:
1.0 EDU if property is ≤1 acre
if property is greater than 1 acre, 1.0 EDU plus 0.1 EDU per 10
acres (not including first acre)
Multiple Family Residences: 1.0 EDU per residence
Seasonal Residences: 1.0 EDU
Vacant Land Non-buildable per Existing Zoning Requirements: 0.0 EDU
Motels, Inns and Cottages: 0.5 EDU per unit
Restaurants: 2.0 EDU
Marinas: 1.0 EDU
Multiple Agencies Require Coordination
APA - Permit
EPA-NPA Approval
NYSEFC- Funding Submittal
NYSA&C- District Approval
OPRHD - Permit
NYSDOT- Work Permit
NYSDEC-SEQR Approval- Stream Permit
Proposed Cost ImplementationNYSA&C
Capital Cost (2007 Est. w/ 14% Cont.) $3,222,000
Collection System ‡ $3,020,000
Pump Station ‡ $202,000

Engineering (Planning, Design, and Construction Observation), Legal, & Ad rative Services $ 518,000
Total Capital Cost $3,740,000
EPA Grant $s Remaining ($3,085,000)
Local Cost to Finance $ 655,000

Estimated First Year Cost Per EDU
Cost Category Cost/EDU/Yr
Capital Cost $655,000 @ 4.5% for 38 years = $36,288/yr
$36,288/yr - 141.67 EDUs yields $256.00
O&M Cost $400.00
Total $656.00

Estimated First Year Cost Per EDU
Cost Category Cost/EDU/Yr
Capital Cost $655,000 @ 6.0% for 30 years = $47,585/yr
$47,585/yr - 141.67 EDUs yields $336.00
O&M Cost $400.00
Total $736.00 Estimated First Year Cost Per EDU
Cost Category Cost/EDU/Yr
Capital Cost $655,000 @ 5.8% for 20 years = $55,952/yr
$55,952/yr - 141.67 EDUs yields $395.00
O&M Cost $400.00
Total $795.00
Cost Impacts Per EDU

38-yr 30-yr 20-yr
Cost per Year $656 $736 $795

Cost per Month $55 $61 $66
Cost per Day $1.80 $2.03 $2.20
Benefits for the Project
1) Protect Lake Water Quality
2) Improve Public Health
3) Increase Property Values
4) Avoid Land Disturbance for On-Site Disposal
5) Capitalize on WWTP Capacity Available
6) Capitalize on EPA Funding Available

Also mentioned during the presentation was the fact that a public hearing with a court stenographer would be held later in the summer.

DOT has been involved and wants Clough Harbour to present a plan that is workable.

In referring to maps that were shown, Robert Flores said that the yellow line is the existing sewer and the red line is the proposed.

The proposed sewer will go south from the existing sewer which ends in Cape Cod Village to the dead end in Pine Cove.

It will go north past the Trout House, through the “S curve” into Friends Point and Forest Bay.

At the pump house location near the Trout House an additional pump will be put in.

Bill Lamy asked the audience, “Are these costs in a reasonable realm? Will you want to pay? The Town Board needs to hear your opinions.”

At the end of the presentation, the questions and comments were heard from members of the audience.

Brad Whisher - Owner of The View Restaurant which is not in the district. It is a substantial cost for only seasonal residents. Is there a minimum flow problem in the winter?

Vern: The problems in sewer district #1 were corrected (cited examples)

Larry Schwartz - Do you have to hook up? If not, do you still pay the cost?

Dan: Yes, you still have to pay.

Larry Schwartz - What is the cost of installing the grinder pumps?

Tim Costello, Hague Sewer Administrator (who was in the audience) - $2000 - $6000 depending on the distance to where the hookups are placed.

Larry Schwartz - Where are the hookups placed? Does the homeowner have any choice?

Dan: Yes.
Vern: We will get input on the design.

Sandy Warriner - Is there a step- by- step procedure on the internet for seasonal residents for winterizing the pumps?

Yes. (later statement refuted this but said there would be)

Lisa Timm - Is there a way for homeowners to pay the capital costs up front?

No answer, it hasn’t been done.

Vern: EDU list will be available tomorrow.

Bob Lorenson - If we could pay a lump sum it would help both those who use this option as well as the others (less interest for the project over the long run).

Stanley Jewell - What about the grease trap with restaurants? With a 1 1/4 in pipe it could (get backed up.)

Vern: As a small amount enters it increases the velocity and has a “scouring effect.”

Pam Peterson - Are there any provisions for people not able to pay the costs?

Dan: We had a program for sewer #1. We would have to see.
Bill: Not for the annual bill, but for the hook-up.

Claire Phillips - If a house is in one name you get one vote, if in two names you get 2 votes. How does that relate to assessment?

Dan: It doesn’t

Linda Toner - (It was stated that) 5% of the EDU’s means you need 8 people to request a referendum. Shouldn’t you take 5% of the voters?

Dan - The way the law is written it is only those in the district.

Attorney Viscardi - You need 5% of the units for the referendum. The law is clear on that.

Blythe Leonard - Why not distribute the capital costs over both districts?

Bill - The law is specific that it cannot be done.

Bob Wotton - Clarify the number needed on the vote.

Dan - That is what the law says

John Warriner - If there is a referendum, how is it decided if it passes?

Dan - One more than the votes cast.

John Warriner - In the two sewer districts, do all the seasonal residents pay at the same rate?

Yes.

Dave Pressman – Questioned the taking out or filling the existing septic tank with dirt.

Dan - If it is a cement tank it can be pumped and filled with sand.

Shirley Bryant - Can we use the existing pipes to connect to the sewer line?

Bill - No, the pump has to be replaced by a new pump and new pipe.

Hal Connelly - Is there a chance of possible termination of the grant money?

Dan - I will do everything in my power to get the grant. I’m not guaranteeing it but it is possible that the cost could to go down.

Cindy Siwek - How is the O & M rate figured? Will that number change in the future?

The rate is per EDU and is the same for both districts.
It could change.

Dan - We started with a fee of $475 in district #1 and it is now down to $400. I think we will see the user fees go down.

Myles Peterson - What are the contingency costs? We don’t see your figures on the capital costs. We should be provided with these numbers. What if we vote for the project and the cost turns out to be different?

Dan - If the cost changes, we would have another public hearing.

Bill - You ultimately say yes or no. Audit and Control will monitor the costs and if there is a change, we have to go back through this same process.

Myles Peterson - How many EDU’s for the Yacht Club? What are the votes for a corporation?

The proposed charge to the Yacht Club is 1 EDU for Marina, 10% for vacant land and there is a Friends Point Association Outdoor sports that is being charged 1 EDU. A corporation can have 1 vote with a resolution designating the voting delegate.

Larry Schwartz - Is there any chance the state will come up with the (balance needed)?

Dan - I am going to try - there are 4 possible ways.

Shirley Bryant - If we don’t use the $3,000,000 available now, will we lose it?

Yes

Marianna Klein - Can votes be turned over to a power of attorney?

Attorney Viscardi - No issue of allowing votes, I only have a problem if you don’t allow someone to vote. I don’t think there would be a denial of an absentee ballot. It will be worked out.

Doug Michels - Is there a time line for using the $3,000,000? When might we lose it?
Between now and when the decision is made?

Bill - March 31, 2007 - with EPA. Have talked about an extension and I have no reason to believe they won’t extend it.

Linda Toner - Will O & M costs be the same for both districts?

Yes.

Blythe Leonard - Did the sewer district #1 grant pay for the installations?

No.

Claire Phillips - Do the pumps run if one is not in residence?

Bernie Renois - We haven’t talked about the benefits. Would we pay to have sewers? Most of us would pay. It is not a question of IF a septic system fails but WHEN. This is the best deal around.

Dan - Vern didn’t want to include Forest Bay but I looked after you and got Forest Bay included.

Dave Pressman - Do you see a sewer district #3?

Dan - Not in my time.

Cindy Siwek - What is the time frame?

Dan - I want to see it get started in the Spring of 2007.

Bill - Once again Dan is an optimist. All agencies have mandates. The process won’t allow it that quickly. I guarantee Dan will be pushing this as hard as he can - but the process is painfully slow - have to grind through bureaucracy.

Final information:

The Public Hearing will be set by a special meeting of the Board tomorrow. It will be set for August 8th from 5:30 - 6:30 pm.
Correction was made at the Regular Town Board meeting of August 8, 2006: The Public Hearing will be set for August 9, 2006 at 6:30 pm.

The winterization is not yet on the website.

Public hearing will not be a “give & take”. The response to the questions will be in written form by the engineers.

Edna Frasier made a motion to adjourn, second by Dick Gladu. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Stock
Acting Secretary