Town Officials Seek Expansion Of North Road Sewer Project

East Windsor Water Pollution Control Authority officials this week will present a proposal to apply for federal assistance to extend sewers another 8,500 lineal feet east on Route 140.

WPCA officials made the presentation last week to the board of selectmen telling the body that application for grants from US Department of Agriculture has to be made this spring before the agency uses population results from the 2010 census. They will present the proposal to the planning and zoning commission on Tuesday and the board of finance on Wednesday.

Edward Alibozek, WPCA chief operator, said last week the project is needed because that area is very wet and has had a number of  homeowners have septic system failures.

Jay Ussery, a senior project manager for J.R. Russo and Associates, said the extension would travel easterly, from Wells Road east to Yosky Road, and southerly, Rolocut and Wells roads to Skylark Airpark.

Ussery said the program would be funded by USDA grants and low interest loans, and would cost about $2.254 million.

Alibozek said the USDA would reimburse the town about 20 percent of the cost of the project through grants.

Laurie Whitten, director of planning and economic development for the town, said with the completion of the sewer extension, could add 32 acres in commercial development on North Road and 240 acres of residential development in the area.

Whitten said they are proposing a fast track timeline for the proposal so the town can have a referendum asking voters approval by the end of March. The USDA would need time to process the paperwork, officials said.

The town this fall approved taking money saved from the original project and extending it about 1,500 feet. The project was originally designed to stop ay Mullen Road, but officials believed they could apply the cost savings to extending the sewers about 1,000 feet east to Wells Road and possibly to 1,500 feet for Phase II.

Arthur Enderle III, WPCA superintendent, said he believes that having sanitary
sewers contributes to the wealth and health of an area. If  the town doesn’t get the USDA funding there won’t be the WPCA can do for the failed septic systems in the proposed area.

Enderle said officials recently found out about needing to apply for the USDA funding quickly. The agency officials said they would start using 2010 census figures which will put East Windsor above the 10,000 population threshold for the funding program, he said.

Town Treasurer Catherine Cabral said the timing of the debt generated by borrowing money for the sewers would be good. The town is set to retire some debt in 2013 and 2016. The new debt will keep the town’s percentage of its budget stable, which is favored by credit rating agencies, she said.

WPCA Chairman Paul Anderson said if the USDA approves the project then the town gets to set the timetable when the project begins.

“Once we’re locked in, we decide when we start,” Anderson said. “We’re in control.”

First Selectwoman Denise E. Menard said the USDA officials are excited about working with East Windsor officials on the project. Menard said while town officials talk about the possibility of commercial development with extending the sewers “there is alos the social responsibility to solve issues if we can.”