Sewer project offered funding

LOUISVILLE — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given the residents of Wilson Hill a sewer grant that's probably too good to refuse.

It will be up to the owners of the 160 dwellings there whether to accept a Rural Development financing package that would bring them sewer service for an estimated $628 per year or stick with septic systems some fear could be banned in the coming years.

Engineer Timothy A. Burley of Burley-Guminiak & Associates, Canton, told the Town Council Wednesday that an offer from the USDA to fund the $5 million Wilson Hill sewer project with nearly 75 percent grant funding is the best the municipality is going to get for the project.

If the offer is approved by district residents and finalized by USDA, the town would receive $3.77 million in grant funding and a low-interest loan for $1.28 million, according to a letter from Rural Development. A local contribution of $10,000 would make up the remaining funds needed to install sewer lines on the island.

Mr. Burley said a previous offer by the USDA would have cost residents more than $800 per year, but with the influx of federal stimulus money, the grant offer swelled, making the project look much more affordable for district residents.

"The first offer they gave was too high — dead on arrival, in my opinion," Mr. Burley said. "It wasn't even worth sending a letter out to the residents. This is an offer that's worthy to bring back to the district. It's as good as it's going to get."

A survey done several years ago to gauge resident interest in municipal water and sewer service returned positive results for the sewer project, Sewer Committee member and Wilson Hill resident Dalton P. Foster said.

"We did surveys before the water went in and 78 percent indicated they wanted it, but there wasn't a price on it yet," Mr. Foster said.

Now the town has firmer numbers to approach district residents with, but officials are concerned that deteriorating economic conditions may have eroded support for the project.

"I'm a little unsure on this project," town Supervisor Larry R. Legault said. "I've heard there are people who don't want it out there."

But even in better economic times, Mr. Burley said, the town likely would not see an offer backed so significantly by grant funding, especially once federal stimulus money is exhausted.

"Obviously $628 is not dirt cheap — it's $52 a month for sewer — but you've done the best you could. If the residents are not supportive, they're not supportive," Mr. Burley said.