A: Holding a public vote is the surest way for the Town Board to know the majority of the affected public is in favor of the project.

A: Refer to the Rules of Voting document prepared by the Town Attorney (to the left) for information on voting eligibility.

A:  The Town has received notice that the project qualifies for a 30-year loan at 1% interest through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The estimated total cost for a typical single-family household is $591 per year.

The anticipated rate schedule is as follows:
Amount on January taxes:    $486
Sandy Creek Operation and Maintenance:    $25
Water Charge ($40 semi-annually for first 40,000 gallons used):    $80
Total for typical household:    $591

A:  Vacant parcels will be charged as half of a single-family household. Therefore, vacant parcel owners will pay an estimated $243 per year. Property owners will be charged per parcel. If a property owner owns both a developed and a vacant parcel, they will be charged for each parcel separately, similar to other property taxes.

A:  Parcels that are merged will be charged as a single parcel. If a parcel containing a single-family household is merged with an adjacent vacant parcel, the parcel will then be charged as a single-family parcel in the following year.

A:  Land-locked, un-served parcels, including un-served parcels in additional sections, will be assessed as 0.1 units, or approximately $48.60 per year.

A:  Property owners will be required to pay for facilities located on private property. These facilities include copper pipe from the curb box (located at the right-of-way boundary) to the house ($15 - $25 per foot), a meter pit of the house is more than 150 feet from the right-of-way boundary ($520), a water meter ($160), a pressure reducing valve if necessary ($60), a water service inspection ($125), and any changes to plumbing required within the house. Note that these costs are based on current quotes from suppliers and may vary at the time of connection. Property owners will also be required to disconnect from their private well or other water source per County Health Code.

A:  If you own a trailer park, you would have a single larger meter. If you fail to pay the water bill, the Town has the ability to put un-paid bills on your property tax bill. The Town has no means of recovering money from your tenants. You would be responsible for water billing to individual tenants. You can sub-meter if you wish.

A: Yes. Please note that you can choose to merge these parcels into one.

A: The estimated cost per unit to repay the loan taken for capital costs is approximately $486 per year. The Town has received notice that the project qualifies for a 30-year loan at 1% interest.

A: Generally, the water line will go down the middle of the road. Ideally, we like to be at least 10 feet from buildings. We can usually spare trees by using trenchless pipe installation methods. This area is very typical of many of our recent waterline projects.

A: In populated areas, hydrants are spaced at about 600 feet. We generally place hydrants near property edge. We will stake locations in advance to avoid taking up your favorite car/RV/trailer parking/turn-around spot.

A: Town water district personnel.

A: Based on our experience with similar lake front water projects with many private roads, 99+% of the easements are obtained voluntarily. The Town would use their power of eminent domain to obtain any necessary outstanding easements.

A: The Map, Plan and Report has been finalized and the “proposed” boundary is now official. Some small changes were made to the boundary since the petition circulated last year due to strong public opinion. The boundary is referred to as “proposed” because the water district has not yet been formed.

A: Each subdivided parcel would be subject to the terms of the district. Each parcel in the sub-division would get its own charge.

A: Unit charges would be reviewed and adjusted by the Town board annually.

A: Charges would be assessed on an equivalent dwelling unit basis (EDU) with one (1) EDU being a typical single-family house. A business that has the potential to use twice as much water as a typical single-family house would be assessed two (2) EDUs.

A: The Town will develop and issue standards when the time comes.

A: Water services will be appropriate for the application. Special needs of the land owner will be considered during construction.

A: Spur (dead end) lines will have a blow-off or a fire hydrant for periodic flushing.

A: At a minimum, the water will be chlorinated. Fluoride is not being considered at this time. The groundwater will be treated at the Town of Richland’s Schoeller well site east of the hamlet of Richland.

A: The Town has received notice that the project qualifies for a 30-year loan at 1% interest. No other grants are anticipated at this time, but if a feasible opportunity arises the Town will look into it.

A: North Rainbow Shores survey results indicated 17 opposed, 9 in favor. I do not have the survey results for South Rainbow Shores Road. The roads are wide enough to install water main.

A: These areas could be served by a future project should the people need/want it.

A: Only those parcels in the water district would assess a benefit charge. Charges would not be assessed to the town-wide general fund.

A: The Town of Sandy Creek will adopt a local law and minimum standards. We expect the law and standards to be similar to Richland’s. Should this be the case, acceptable materials include 3/4-inch or larger type K copper or DR 11 4710 HDPE plastic pipe (currently stocked at Deaton’s).

A: Generally, one parcel, one meter. Owner would serve both from the same meter.

A: Based on our experience with similar lake front water projects with many private roads, 99+% of the easements are obtained voluntarily. The Town would use their power of eminent domain to obtain any necessary outstanding easements.

A: No, meter pits are required only if you can’t protect the meter from freezing (i.e., seasonal camp).

A: The meter needs to be installed in an accessible and freeze protected location in a building (e.g., basement or utility room) or in a specially designed below-grade meter pit located near the road.

A: Real property assessments are based on past sales data of “comparable” property. Should houses sell at higher prices because they have public water, then the assessments will eventually follow suit. I believe public water has a very minor impact on house sales and prices compared to the state of the economy and overall housing market.