Torrey breaks ground for Water District #1

John Christensen The Chronicle-Express TORREY – After a quarter of a century of disappointment, disagreement, and delays, the Town of Torrey first public water district has begun construction. March 21, Town officials were joined by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture representatives at Serenity Road for a formal groundbreaking of Torrey’s Water District #1. This project will benefit residents by providing potable water and volume to residents and businesses within the project area in the northeast corner of the town along Rte. 14, including Albany, Boston, Caton, Serenity, and Davy Roads down to residences on Seneca Lake.

The project has its origin all the way back in 1998 and the collection of 27 petitions by interested parties on Log Cabin Road, Perry Point, and Arrowhead Beach.

“There was a public interest meeting at the firehouse where there was a lot of vocal opposition,” recalls George Thompson of Serenity Road, who has been a central figure in the project since that time. “Gerry Schictel, a board member, from Perry Point brought a mason jar full of grey sludge to a board meeting. He had several wells drilled by Moravec. None produced any useful water.”

“Safe water is a very important, fundamental household need,” says Thompson.

“Almost everyone I’ve talked to has issues getting a good supply. I’m just very pleased all the persistence has finally been rewarded. This will be the first water district in the Town of Torrey. The only other people who get water in the Town of Torrey are those within the boundaries of the Village of Dresden.”

The water for District #1 will be coming via the Town of Benton’s water main from the Kashong well owned by the Town of Geneva. Perry Point and Arrowhead Beach were areas that were designated for potential expansion of Dresden’s water service from Penn Yan over half a century ago. Those areas have been in negotiation with Dresden village officials for some time and are making progress, but a start date may still be years down the road.

“It seems the whole water district formation process needs to be speeded up,” says Thompson. “After too many years, people lose interest in the very complicated moves to make it all happen. It all falls apart if people don’t come to town board meetings and ask questions.”

Town Supervisor Peter Martini, former Supervisor Pat Flynn, and Town Clerk Betty Daggett were unanimous in their praise of Thompson’s dogged determination to see the project through, calling him “a titan of tenacity.” Thompson’s service to Torrey has since expanded with his election as Town Justice.

“When we invest in rural infrastructure, we invest in the livelihoods and health of people in rural America,” said Brian Murray, State Director for USDA Rural Development in N.Y. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Secretary Vilsack, USDA is committed to Building a Better America by investing in America’s rural infrastructure.

Investments like these in the Town of Torrey - as they build out Water District #1 - will drive the creation of good-paying jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably so that everyone gets ahead for decades to come.”

According to the USDA, the Rural Development investment will be used to pay for additional costs incurred with the construction of Water District #1. Project engineer Jeremy DeLyser, of CPL, has noted that the contractor, Nardozzi Co. of Geneva, has already run into more hard shale than expected.

The total project costs are $2,400,000 with $400,000 in Rural Development direct loan funds, $324,000 in Rural Development grant funds, $892,000 in previously funded Rural Development direct loan funds, $684,000 in previously funded Rural Development grant funds, $96,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARRA) grant funds and $4,000 in previous applicant contribution. No other funding sources have been identified for this project.

Torrey breaks ground for Water District #1

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