NARROWSBURG – The Tusten Town Board at its regular meeting on Tuesday evening voted to approve new water rates for the Narrowsburg water and sewer district.

The motion comes at a time when the town is working to upgrade the existing water infrastructure.
The board said the reason they have to raise the rates is because they haven’t been raised in ten years and the cost of producing the water far exceeds the current rates.

The new rates, which will go into effect on July 1, are $127 per quarter for residential or non-profit properties with water usage of less than 9,125 gallons. Usage of 9,126 to 14,000 gallons will be charged at a rate of $.019 per gallon, and usage above 14,000 gallons will be charged at a rate of $.025 per gallon.
Rates will be different for commercial properties, but the town said there is currently no language identifying what designates “commercial.”

The board and Town Attorney Ken Klein agreed that a definition will be drafted soon.

The board also voted to set a public hearing for Tuesday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. regarding improvements to the water system serving the Narrowsburg Water District. It will be held in person at the Town Hall and via Zoom.
The improvements are: replacement of the existing water storage tank with a new 250,000-gallon steel water storage tank, installation of a new booster pump station, well improvements, replacement of existing fire hydrants, water valves and water mains and installation of new automatic flushing stations and additional new fire hydrants, water valves and water mains.

Delaware Engineering has prepared a plan and report, and the estimated cost of the proposed improvements is $7,500,000.

Representatives from Delaware Engineering will be present at the public hearing to give a presentation and answer any questions.

It is expected that following the public hearing the town board will consider a bond resolution authorizing the issuance of its general obligations in an amount not to exceed $7,500,000 to finance the cost of the proposed improvements.

Funding is also being sought through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s water grant program under the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

Other sources of funding may also be available and may be pursued, depending upon program requirements and project eligibility.

New trash cans?
Sullivan County and the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway Committee are working on a pilot program with river communities to bring solar powered trash and recycling receptacles to those towns.
The solar power technology alerts a management company when the bins need to be serviced. The cost is $5,000 for the units themselves and $1,000 in yearly maintenance. There is no cost to the town.
The county and Byway Committee are testing the program before they expand and commit.
The town board agreed to move forward with the pilot program, with cans to be located at either the Main Street deck or the gazebo in Veterans Park.

Town passes comp plan

In January 2020, the town board appointed a Comprehensive Plan Committee to undertake the preparation of the town’s comprehensive plan to replace the town’s 2007 comprehensive plan.
The plan contains goals, objectives and action steps to help guide the community’s future.
A copy of the full plan can be found on the town’s website.
The committee held public meetings, sent out a survey and worked with a planning consultant. The board adopted the plan unanimously.