New sewer district proposed for Burnt Hills

BALLSTON — A proposed $15.8 million sewer line to run around Ballston Lake and the Route 50 corridor will cost the average homeowner in this newly designated district at least $651 a year.

And if the homeowner wants to hook into the line, a one-time installation charge will range  between $3,500 and $10,000 per home and there will be an additional yearly Saratoga County usage fee of $275.

But Ballston officials, who gave a standing-room only presentation on Tuesday night, say it's worth it for residents to vote yes on the new sewer district on April 18 because it will reduce the sewage seeping into Ballston Lake and the Alplaus Kill and will promote development along Route 50 in Burnt Hills.

"If we don't do it now, it's going to cost a lot more in the future," said Kim Kotkoskie of CREEC, PLLC, a firm that provides expertise on environmental compliance, who was leading the talk along with Councilman Bill Goslin. "It's still less than what most people typically pay in New York state, which is $995 a year."

Some residents were enthusiastic about the sewer line. Alec Davis said he remembers when it was voted down 40 years ago and is happy to vote yes on for "a great project."

Tim Bachand, owner of Burnt Hill Hardware, said the water running through the culvert near his businesses has been polluted for a long time. Calling sewage-seeps "Ballston's dirty little secret," he said he's happy to vote yes.

Opponents included James Maughan, who lives on the other side of Route 50, away from the lake, and said he thinks the sewer line is being put in his neighborhood, not for environmental reasons, but to buffer the cost for the people who need it.

"Why not just put the line along Route 50?" Maughan asked. "Why bring it into my neighborhood, which really doesn't benefit?"

Maughan, who got applause for the comment, said his home is 10 years old with an effective septic system. He doesn't need to hook into a sewer line, but will have to pay the $651 a year regardless. He also said the water testing of Alplaus didn't start until January and the decision to move it to his neighborhood came in February.

Kotkoskie stressed, however, that septics eventually fail and that the initial cost to connect to the sewer is less than replacing a septic tank and leach field. She had new septics running as high as $40,000.

"I don't want to scare you, but if your septic fails, it could cost a whole lot more," Kotkoskie said.

Goslin said the cost of the project's cost could go down if the town gets a $5 million grant from the state's Environmental Facilities Corporation, which would lower everyone's initial bill by $100. He also said the cost would drop further if Route 50 was developed. He pointed to several properties where homes and businesses could be built. For example, the Little Farm has 45 buildable acres, he said.

But many are opposed to more development because the rural character of Ballston is already under threat. In addition, the town is fighting a legal battle with the state on putting water lines in the agriculture district, something the state said it could not do, but the town wants to do to accommodate a developer.

"There is nothing to stop the Town Board from giving developers sewers in the ag district," said Joan Potts, a member of the town's Farmland Protection Committee. "The town board has proven it is untrustworthy with water lines. Why would we trust them with sewers."

Goslin said they shouldn't be concerned.

"We are not going to turn into Glenville, Malta or Clifton Park," Goslin said.