Yorktown approves water district expansion

The Yorktown Town Board unanimously approved an expansion of the Yorktown Water District that adds 82 parcels to the existing district, reducing water costs for 77 existing customers while allowing five Hanover Street properties to connect in the future.

Seventy-seven parcels were already connected to the district’s water supply but had been paying an “out-of-district” charge that was double the regular rate. Sixty-four of those parcels are in the Glassbury development off Catherine Street, while the remaining parcels will now be eligible for connections.

The 77 homes are expected to see their water rate drop from $142.20 to $71.10 per 9,000 gallons, saving each household about $213.30 annually, according to Water District Superintendent Paul Vasillo.

The parcels include homes on Glassbury Court, including Dalton Drive, Costable Court, Depeyster Drive, Summerhill Court, Ewing Place and Cornella Court, as well as properties on Hanover Street, Croton Heights Road, White Horse Lane and Marley Court.

Five Hanover Street properties — 1320, 1332, 1350, 1362 and 1376 Hanover St. — will become eligible for future connections. Once connected, the properties will generate tap fee revenue and ongoing in-district water revenue for the district.

Vasillo called the expansion a long-awaited change for residents.

“I am happy that the town was able to offer some relief to the 77 residents in the form of a 50 percent water bill reduction,” Vasillo told Yorktown News.

Glassbury Court resident Nancy Harper Kelly thanked the Town Board for approving the expansion.

“We're very happy to hear this news,” she said during the brief public hearing on July 14. “I've lived there for 18 years, and we worked very hard to try to get this resolved for a long time. So, we'll take it, but it's been a lot of money that's been spent that probably didn't need to be spent.”

The lower rates are expected to take effect with the September billing cycle after the expansion is submitted to the state for approval.

“Equalizing water payments for all town residents and water district customers justifies absorbing the resulting revenue loss to create a unified rate structure,” Vasillo said.