American Legion piped into water district

NORTH EAST — The town has agreed to let the Millerton American Legion Post 178 hook into its water service, even though the Legion’s property is outside the water district.

Town Supervisor Dave Sherman explained that years ago an agreement on an easement was reached between the town and the Legion so the town could use the property to run a service line connecting end-of-the-line water mains on Route 44 and David Road. The Legion Hall property falls between those locations.

In that agreement was the stipulation that, when the Legion decided it wanted to, it would be able to hook up to the district’s water service, even though its property is not within the district. A curb-stop was previously installed in anticipation that the Legion would eventually want to connect.

At present the Legion Hall is drawing water from a well on its property. In a formal request to the Town Board, it said that the well, which is located in the parking lot, has been causing problems.

The town will be waving its general fee for out-of-district users for the Legion Hall, "in exchange for providing something of value to the municipality," according to Sherman. Normal usage rates will still apply, but billing is taken care of through the village of Millerton.

The agreement, which hasn’t been passed by the board yet, will last as long as the Legion owns the property.