The city of Oneonta is having problems collecting payment from some water customers in the town of Oneonta’s West End.
The solution proposed by city officials, and discussed by the Oneonta Town Board Wednesday, Jan. 8, is to create a new water district.
This would allow a water customer’s non-payment to go on their tax bill, Town Attorney Rob Panasci said.
Town Supervisor Randy Mowers added that the water infrastructure system in the area is aged and failing, much of it from the post-World War II housing boom. If there was an intermunicipal water district, there may be funding available for replacement, he said.
Panasci said that if the town doesn’t want to be responsible for repairs to the infrastructure, it would have to be worked out in the contract with the city.
“We’ll take a look at the contract and see what the particulars of it are,” Mowers said. “It also gives us an avenue to get new water service down there. They’re starting to break down. Butler Street has had trouble, they’ve all had trouble … An inter-municipal (agreement) will make us open to more funding, for both of us, to get it fixed.”
The town owns it own sewer district, which wouldn’t be affected by a new water district.
Oneonta city officials did not return a request for comment Thursday.
Other business
In other business, the board unanimously approved a five-year agreement with Otsego County for shared highway services. Town crews often perform work on county roads, including snow plowing for which the county pays 80% of the workers’ overtime.
The board unanimously approved the purchase of a jackhammer at the state contract price of $11,350. The town plans to pay for the equipment out of three accounts — one-thirds each from Parks and Recreation, Highway Department and the water and sewer district.
The board unanimously approved hiring an emergency part-time on call motor equipment operator, who would be plowing roads, to cover an employee who fell ill.
Board, staff turnover
Board member Skylar Thompson has stepped down from his position on the board and was replaced by Joseph Camarata, who was chairperson of the town Planning Board. Thompson has moved out of the area for work, Mowers said.
Town Code Enforcement Officer Paul Neske plans to retire in mid-August after a long career in town government. The town plans to start searching for qualified candidates to replace Neske soon.