CLAYTON — The Town Council on Wednesday discussed a new plan it may pursue to help several homeowners with salt contaminated wells, a plan that would provide them and other Route 12 property owners a with new source of water.
The plan, which the board presented months after its proposed reverse osmosis systems for affected homes along State Route 12 and County Route 5 failed to receive state Department of Health approval, calls for a new water district that would follow Route 12 from the village boundary to Depauville said Town Supervisor David M. Storandt Jr.
The district, if formed, would include a water main along Route 12 and possibly extensions where needed, which could help residents with salt-contaminated wells on County Route 5. Councilman Robert W. Cantwell III said the main would use water from the St. Lawrence River.
Both the health department and the town’s attorney, Joseph W. Russell with Menter, Rudin and Trivelpiece, p.c., recommended the plan, Mr. Storandt said, adding that the town is allowed to expend public money on capital projects such as a water district.
Mr. Storandt said property owners within the district would “be the folks paying for the project” if the board took action, and Mr. Storandt, Mr. Cantwell and councilwomen Mary J. Zovistoski and Donna J. Patchen said they wanted property owners’ comments before taking action.
“We are not moving forward unless we have the majority of the people behind us,” Ms. Zovistoski said.