Arcadia residents mixed on water
By John Zornow

Back-to-back public hearings were held Tuesday evening, February 3, and Wednesday evening February 4 at the Marbletown and Fairville fire halls.

These meetings were driven by Arcadia Supervisor Dom Bartucca, who made an election promise to get municipal water to residents outside the village of Newark.

Only about 34 residents showed up for the meeting at the Marbletown firehouse. The general feeling from most who spoke up was negative. Sharon Lilla, who heads the Wayne County Planning Department and Martin Aman of MRB Group Engineers, were on hand to explain the details of a series of grants that were available to help offset the costs of running water lines.

Many of the residents of the Marbletown area remembered the 1995 proposal to bring water to the area, and the high cost that was quoted. In 1995, however, no grant was being pursued. Once the effects of grants were discussed, the crowd began to mellow. Preliminary figures show a one-time hookup fee of $1500, $250 per year to belong to the water district, and an average water bill of $200-250 per year per household.

Low response to the hearing was blamed on lack of proper notice, but residents expressed their willingness to continue talks with a greater number of Marbletown households represented. Supervisor Bartucca agreed, and indicated that he would, in the future, mail notices to those involved.

In Fairville, only one person (out of about 60) said she did NOT want water. Water quality in the Fairville area is poor, including the water at the fire hall. The firemen and auxilians have to provide alternate sources of water to continue the Friday night fish fry dinners.

Lilla and Aman were again on hand to explain the grant process to those in Fairville, who were much more receptive to what the town board was trying to do. Bartucca assured everyone that nothing was being forced on the people of the area north of Newark and that water was the key to growth. Lilla agreed, saying that strong zoning as well as municipal water are necessary for growth.

Dennis Morgan of Welcher Industries on Welcher Road talked about his business and how it is affected by poor and low water supply. He indicated that a move into Newark could not be ruled out.

Watch for details of future meetings on the expansion of water.

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