January 22, 2007

Ranzenhofer Criticizes Sewer Merger Study Handling

(Amherst/Clarence-NY) Both the towns of Clarence and Amherst Town Boards passed resolutions supporting the merger feasibility study for Sewer District 5. The study was designed to determine whether or not it would make fiscal and operation sense to combine, extend, or add services to the current sewer districts. Sewer District Number 5, which services portions of Clarence and Amherst had a cost of $90,000 associated with its study, and 90% of the cost would be reimbursed by the State of New York. Both Town's Engineers joined in supporting the study.

The study for Sewer District 5 has been sent to the Energy & Environment Committee of the Legislature. This item has been languishing in committee since October and risks losing its reimbursable funding from the state if it's not acted upon soon. This study is good for Amherst and Clarence. It is a perfect example of government working for the taxpayer to save them money, and the Legislature's Majority has done everything in their power to successfully keep this study from helping residents. Legislator Michael H. Ranzenhofer said "I attempted to bring this item to the floor of the Legislature for a vote to approve it, and it was blocked by the majority."

This study would identify necessary changes and upgrades that need to be made to our sewer district system and its results have the potential to save you dollars on your tax bill. Legislator Ranzenhofer added "the Majority has chosen to ignore the facts and has instead made this an issue of politics and personalities rather than one centered on the taxpayer's best interests." Every day that this item sits in committee it becomes costlier for the county to act on it, ultimately minimizing the amount it can save taxpayers.

Back to District 4 Homepage