By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

This summer, Nelson and Cazenovia announced the initiation of the Town of Cazenovia/Town of Nelson Route 20 Water District Improvements project.

The $2.85 million project will extend public water from the Village of Cazenovia Public Water System to businesses and residential properties along U.S. Route 20.

According to a December 2017 map, plan, and report — prepared by Dunn & Sgromo Engineers, PLLC — the new district includes 10 properties in the Trush Business Park and 35 properties on both sides of Route 20, from Stone Quarry Road to 800 feet east of Nelson Heights Road.

Designed to improve quality of life and spur economic development, the water line extension project is the result of collaboration between the Town and Village of Cazenovia and the Town of Nelson.

“This is all about fire safety and quality water,” said Nelson Town Supervisor Roger Bradstreet.

Philip Cunningham of Cunningham Excavation, Inc. will oversee the project construction, including the installation of the pipes and a gravity-fed water tank.

While the towns will cover the construction of the water line, the Village of Cazenovia will be responsible for operating and maintaining the system and selling water to the district. Operation and maintenance costs will be included in the water usage rates.

The Towns of Cazenovia and Nelson received grants from New York State Environmental Facilities Corp (NYSEFC) and Northern Borders totaling $1.79 million. The remaining $1.06 million will be financed through a 30-year loan from EFC.

According to Bradstreet, the Town of Nelson will cover approximately 66 percent of the project costs and the Town of Cazenovia will cover the remainder.