Cost of Feeding Hills sewer project questioned

June 27, 2012

By Debbie Gardner

debbieg@thereminder.com

AGAWAM — The town extended the sewer, but so far, it doesn't seem many residents want to use it.

That was the information City Council President Christopher Johnson passed on to fellow council members at its June 18 meeting as they discussed appropriation and land taking resolutions for Phase II of the Feeding Hills Sewer Extension Project.

The council ultimately approved the land taking and the appropriation to pay for it by a vote of 9-2, with Council President Christopher Johnson and Councilor Cecilia Calabrese voting against both resolutions.

"We spent $3.8 million on Phase I, and as of this morning, only one house is connected," Johnson said prior to the vote.

Phase I of the project, which was completed in 2011, is comprised of 6,900 feet of sewer along Route 57 and South Westfield Street connecting the existing sewer system at Shoemaker Lane at a point just north of the former Western Massachusetts Regional Police Academy building on South Westfield Street.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Christopher Golba told Reminder Publications that the sole Phase I connection actually was not yet confirmed.

"We've had one house that has inquired about connecting, but has not connected as of yet," Golba said. He speculated the majority of homes in the Phase I area still have functioning septic systems, and homeowners are unwilling to incur the $3,211 connection fee until it is necessary.

As the council prepared to vote, Johnson questioned the cost to homeowners to move forward with Phase II of the project, given the response so far. He said, based on current figures, construction on Phase II could raise sewer rates for town residents as much as 40 percent. He also quoted a total connection cost for Phase II homeowners of as much as $100,000.

"I'm not against the project, it just doesn't make sense to move forward until we have all the information," Johnson said.

Golba acknowledged that the initial phase of the project was "a lot of money [with] not a lot of people [being] directly impacted." He noted that this discrepancy was the potential source for Johnson's per-unit connection estimate.

He also said the town's sewer rate recently went up from $2.40 per 100 cubic feet to $3.04.

Golba said he was aware of homeowners in the Phase II portion of the project — which includes pumping stations at Barry and Pine streets as well as sewer lines on Barry, Pine and South Westfield streets and Bradford Drive — who want to connect to the town's sanitary sewer system.

Golba referred to the expense of Phase I as "the foundation of the whole project" in that it couples the Feeding Hills sewers to the town's existing system.

"Phase II will give us the ability to reach those houses that currently have failing septic systems," Golba said.

City Councilor Robert Rossi reminded the council that some of the money for Phase II had come from savings realized from the initial Phase I appropriation.

"We appropriated $7.1 million, and the project came in at $1.6 million. The balance was used to do the design and engineering for Phase II," Rossi said. "All we have to do is pay for the construction costs."

He added that the six-phase project had previously been presented as costing the town approximately $7 million per phase.

Council Vice President Dennis Perry and Councilor James Cichetti, who both worked on the sewer extension project in the past, urged councilors to approve the resolutions.

"The longer we delay, the more it will cost," Perry noted.

City Councilor Gina Letellier suggested adding a mandatory tie-in for homeowners before the council approved any more phases of the project.

Comments From Our Readers:

jquest23

7/26/2012
11:39:40 AM

I REPEAT NO PUBLIC SOLAR POWER IS GOING BACK TO THE TOWN , JUST PRIVATE INDUSTRY. THEY MEAN THE PRIVATE POWER COMPANY IS THE GRID POWER WILL BE SENT TO. THEY ARE BENDING THE TRUTH ALSO KNOWN AS LYING.

THE TOWN IS GETTING TAX'S LESS PER YEAR THEN THE RESIDENTS IT HAS AFFECTED PAY OUT PER YEAR IN PROPERTY TAXES. There is no list on $ amounts, as they are embarrassed at it's return in property tax being less than 4 residents put together. In the plans , I have seen they say around $25,000 , for 20 years. And the property owner (Cohens buddy), leased it out for 20 years. Leased it so they can bail if needed.,

For anyone whom wants the truth on Agawam's solar farm on shoemaker and cesan street. Search for "Save Agawam's Wetlands" on facebook.

Learn the truth of what this ignorant town has done to its residents, white a solar plan that doesn't give power back to the town .They say the "grid" as its the private company that is going to sell power back to the private power plant in Agawam,MA. this is a westmass dev plan poorly made.

This is how the town went behind the back of the dozens of residents to get this poorly planned, reckless solar farm jammed into where it is.

1. They send out notices of the impending doom to the affected residents July 10th of 2011 while most people where on vacation

2. The town then planned a "meeting" and "hearing" on , or around July 24th, 2011 this with 2 weeks of notice.

3. The session went like this, we don't care about your objection the plan is done, and this is what will happen. We will remove all the tree's, rip apart the land, and leave a solar farm with a 3 foot (yes 3 foot) buffer from the end of your backyards . Some people on Cesan street are on a cul de sac, which means all they will see it solar. Out the front back and side yards.

4. The approval was signed and sent on the same day of meeting, but oddly was already approved before meeting , hearing was over.

5. They told residents don't worry we will leave a little cover for your yards. Did they lie ? Yes , that cover is being removed right now.

6. All the residents property values will drop. If you can see how this was crammed in you will soon agree. This in turn will cost the town more money then the tax benefit.

7. This area is surronded by homes and wetland area's. THe main waterway goes underneath the street ,and empties in two homes across from this site on shoemaker. Everyone was included in the plans for this mess, except these two homes where left out. Why they are wetland waterways from the site , that will be emptying into backyard protected ponds. THEY LEFT THESE HOMES OUT AS TO NOT DEAL WITH THE IMPACT>

This is horrible what the town of Agawam,MA and Cohen has done. They quickly snuck in it, without input, without care of the tax payer's contribution which is more than this solar dump will ever give.

People should know, anywhere else a solar farm went had input. East Hampton , Ware, Noho.. but Apparently Mayor Cohen and Cronies thought that wasn't needs. Don't think he is behind this ,. comment back and i have personal emails from him , he sent showing his fear of stopping the project and being sued, among many other interesting things about him

ITS NOT A RIGHT