Clayton to send survey

CLAYTON — At a public hearing Wednesday, the town determined it would not be fair to include every property along Route 12E in a proposed sewer district.

Town Supervisor Justin A. Taylor said the town will send surveys between mid-April and June to residents along Route 12E from the village to the town of Cape Vincent boundary to determine how many people actually want municipal sewer service.

"If you want to be in the district, now's the time to sign up," he said. "If people don't want to be in the district they don't have to. Anybody who does not respond to that survey, their properties will not be included in the district."

More than two dozen Route 12E residents opposed the creation of the district at a town meeting last month and at the public hearing Wednesday.

"When I spoke to the village mayor, Norma Zimmer, she said there were only three or four people who really wanted it," Cindy L. Grant said. "How many letters has the town got that were for the district and how many against it?"

Mr. Taylor said there were about six residents who expressed interest in receiving municipal sewer service.

There are more than 200 homes along Route 12E from Bartlett Point Road to the town of Cape Vincent border that could connect their homes to the village's sewer pipe running from the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility into the village.

Councilman George E. Kittle said it might be a good idea to form a district along Bartlett Point Road, as the village initially proposed, instead of having a larger district along the highway that almost nobody seems to want.

The village initially asked the town to create a smaller district on Bartlett Point Road to allow the First Baptist Church building to receive service from the village. Village Clerk Geneva Phelps Miller said there are about 36 homes on Bartlett Point Road. She said the village has been violating the law for several years by allowing users along Bartlett Point Road to hook up to the village's water and sewer services.

Mr. Taylor said the town decided to expand the district to accommodate more properties because it would not cost more money.

"We thought we were saving money and being smart," Mr. Kittle said.

Mr. Taylor said the town also is planning to accept petitions annually from Route 12E residents who later decide they want to be included in the district.

"They can petition the board to include their properties in the district, but they would have to pay the engineering fees, review fees and connection fees," he said.