Quotes from Letters to the Town
Quotations from letters to the town from your neighbors within the sewer district
“If the referendum to accept the grant doesn’t pass, we will still have to pay back the grant money used thus far and still have no sewers. If our aging septic system fails, we must come up with a significant amount of money to put in a new system right away. But, If the referendum passes, out of pocket costs can be amortized over 30 years which is much easier to budget for.”
“Your vote to accept the $5 million dollar grant from NYS not only supports the lake ecology, it also supports the public health of our community. Turning down the grant will not make the problem go away. “
“From a realtor: “Sewers will increase market value and are very desirable to today’s buyers It is harder to sell a home with an old septic system, and most lenders require all septic systems to be tested and if needed, repaired or replaced which is very expensive! “
“We’ll pay either way, either taxed to pay back the grant money already used and gain nothing, or pay essentially what we originally voted for and get sewers. “
“In my experience as the Director of Schenectady County Environmental Health, I have witnessed the revitalization of a so called “dead lake” to NYSDECC Class A surface water by the installation of a community sewer system around the lake and adjacent water shed (Mariaville Lake, Duanesberg, NY).”
“I am 100% in favor … at some point the state and DEC will mandate sewers. Every delay will just increase the cost.”
“We are in Buell Heights and experience sewer odor in the area each spring. Also, the back part of our property has turned into our neighbor’s leach field at less than a shovel deep.”
“Most people I talk to would rather have a long term solution than spending 25-30 grand for a septic system which is not a solution.”
“If this lake becomes more eutrophic, property values will go down substantially. The rest of the town will have to pick up the tax burden.”
“The time is now to fix the problems – if ignored it will only get worse for all tax payers. I understand that some people may struggle to spend money on a sewer project, but how can we not afford to? Does anyone want to be associated with a toxic lake that represents all of us within the town? Think of {FOA’s locally, Love Canal, Flint Michigan and others and how water quality and waste streams can divide and destroy a community.”
“Having a sewer system is what makes a civilization more civilized and less archaic. Receiving a grant to help protect our environment and not using it seems like a total and complete mistake.”
“This is a community problem. Try to sell a house with a failing septic. Day to day living with a failing system is difficult and unhealthy.”
“The age and placement of so many septic systems in this small neighborhood area, combined with the soil conditions, create open sewers in the ditches and kills that run through Buell Heights. Installing sewers is the sensible long-term solution for a healthy and safe place to live.”
“Sewers are a required investment in our community. For those who are concerned with development growth, the Town Board, through town zoning, should manage development through lot sizes. “
“If the sewer is not installed, the town will continue to see a decline in quality of life both on a human and environmental level.”
“I believe the public sanitary sewer must be put in place and I do this knowing it means the $26,000 we invested in our Septic will in effect be a wasted expenditure.”
