Morristown sewer project over budget but close to finishing

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

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MORRISTOWN - With construction on the River Road East sewer project slated to be completed by Sept. 15, the Town of Morristown is setting its sights on writing laws to govern its new sewer district, as well as finding a funding source to pay for the project that went several hundred thousand dollars over the original estimation.

The new sewer district comprises district two and runs from the village line to Jacques Cartier State Park. It includes roughly 140 single family dwellings.

“Your goal should be voluntary compliance,” said Mark G. Gebo, an attorney with Hrabchak, Gebo and Langone, Watertown, at Tuesday’s Town Board meeting, advising the town on how it should proceed as it considers new legislation.

David Murray, Morristown town clerk, said the “basic change [the board is considering] is to allow enforcement.” The board is also looking to ensure that laws governing the two sewer districts in Morristown are consistent.

Mr. Murray said changes in the law should be ready for board approval in September and, following a public hearing, could go into effect as soon as October.

The River Road East project that is wrapping up after nearly 8 years in the works has gone over budget due in part to higher than expected demand for sewer grinders and additional construction caused by damage done during the blasting phase.

The project was originally approved with a price tag of $3.15 million. The final bill will run $3.8 million.

“We’re over budget because we did more work,” said Tim A. Burley, partner at Burley-Guminiak and Associates, Canton, which is overseeing the project.

Mr. Burley said the bulk of the additional cost was made up of 18 grinder units requested by citizens and repairing storm drains and roads that were impacted by blasting.

The original cost per single family dwelling was estimated to run $589 per year.

Now, with the additional work, families will be looking at $600 per year.