EWD APPROVES SEWER EXPANSION

THE ENGELWOOD WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THURSDAY VOTED 4-1 TO BEGIN THE EXPANSION OF SEWERS IN THE AREA KNOWN AS V-9A.  THAT IS THE AREA SOUTH OF MANASOTA BEACH ROAD FROM FOSSIL DRIVE TO LEMON BAY.  SUPERVISOR SIDNEY CRAMPTON WAS THE LONE DISSENTING VOTE, BUT FORMER DISSENTERS TAYLOR MEALS AND PHYLLIS WRIGHT VOTED FOR THE EXPANSION, ALLOWING FOR ITS PASSAGE.  THE WATER DISTRICT’S IMPACT FEE FOR SEWER CONNECTIONS IS CURRENTLY A LITTLE LESS THAN $8700, BUT THE DISTRICT VOTED TO ACCEPT FINANCING FROM RESIDENTS OVER FIFTEEN YEARS AT FIVE PERCENT INTEREST.  IF YOU CHOOSE THAT OPTION, YOU WILL SEE AN ASSESSMENT OF JUST UNDER $835 A YEAR ON YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.  ONCE RESIDENTS ARE HOOKED UP WITH THE WATER DISTRICT, A 6000 GALLON A MONTH USER COULD EXPECT A WATER BILL OF JUST OVER $62 A MONTH.  RESIDENTS HAD SHOWN UP IN MASS OVER THE LAST YEAR WHEN THE SEWER EXPANSION TOPIC WAS ON THE AGENDA, BUT REPORTS SAY THURSDAY’S MEETING WAS ONLY SPARSLY ATTENDED.