Norfolk council OKs Louisville water district

NORFOLK — The proposed Louisville water district has been approved by the Norfolk Town Council, subject to permissive referendum.

The district cuts through part of Norfolk, on West Hatfield Street, and so required the town's approval before the project could move forward.

"I think we know most people want it. We've got the petition," Supervisor Charles A. Pernice said. "If we go to a vote, it's going to be some cost involved."

In a permissive referendum, there is no vote unless half of the voters in the proposed district sign a petition asking for one, according to town attorney Eric J. Gustafson. The proposed district includes approximately 70 parcels in Norfolk.

The town already has a petition with about 60 signatures on it in favor of the Louisville district including Norfolk properties, Mr. Pernice said.

The $10.3 million project will begin the design phase in the summer and bids will be let in the fall, with construction scheduled for summer 2011. The work itself will likely take nine months to one year, according to Timothy A. Burley, of Burley-Guminiak & Associates, Canton.

"We want to move the project along quickly," Mr. Burley said. "We certainly want to be on the front end of any stimulus spending in the region. There's lots of communities that have offers."

Louisville's project is being funded with a $6.7 million grant and a $3.5 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Office.

The Louisville project will reach 530 parcels in the town, as well as the Norfolk properties. Including the Norfolk parcels allows Louisville to create loops rather than using more expensive "dead end" lines.

It will cost approximately $548 per hookup to the district, Mr. Burley said.

Most of the dozen or so people at the hour-long public hearing Monday night seemed to approve of the council's decision.

"I was one of the ones who petitioned in the first place," Norfolk resident Michael J. Allen said. "My water's terrible. I've had to replace all my faucets and put in a water softener."