Regional water system is the only solution...

Today's Chronicle includes a story about the City's efforts to fix its Dams and the resulting impact on City taxpayers. Everyone should read this article and note the following details:

1. The $13.6 million project in reality will cost City ratepayers - - businesses included - - nearly $21 million in principal and interest payments over 20 years.

2. This $21 million project does NOT include any costs associated with upgrading the City's water pipes that are in many cases in terrible shape throughout the City nor does it include increased costs to operate 5 dams under new more stringent state regulations.

3. The study is incomplete at best and misleading at worst. It assumes that the City itself will be responsible for paying for whatever other option might be possible. The alternative is to follow Jim Brock's lead to see if there is a chance to make this a regional project. A regional water system will allow costs to be spread out over a much larger customer base than just the City's 14,000 people.

Why might surrounding towns be interested in a regional system? They'll need additional capacity over time as their population increases. We're going to see continued growth in South Glens Falls, Queensbury, Kingsbury and Fort Ann - - all of which could benefit from a regional system and the efficiencies of working together than going it alone. The Town of Queensbury may also be interested either in seeing some of the land surrounding the City's dams purchased so that their residents will be permanently protected from a dam failure and so this land will be preserved as open space or for recreational purposes.

So the business communities request - - convene a summit of City leaders, Town officials, County officials, Congresswoman Gillibrand, Senator Little, Assemblywoman Sayward, Assemblyman McDonald, and the DEC. The City's taxpayers already pay relatively high water rates and adding $21 million to this tab will not help.