Albion town may waive water charge to Murray
ALBION – The Town Board may drop a 13-cent “pass-through” charge to the town of Murray for water.
Albion buys water from the village of Albion and some of the town water lines link with Murray’s water system. Some of the village water ultimately goes to Murray water customers.
Ed Morgan, Murray highway superintendent, last month asked the town of Albion to waive the 13-cent charge the town of Albion adds to the village rate. Albion has been paying $2.86 per 1,000 gallons of water from the village of Albion. Murray then buys that water from the town at a $2.99 rate.
The village is raising its rate to $2.94 to the town. Albion is considering charging Murray $3.07 under the new structure.
Jed Standish, the Albion highway and water superintendent, estimated that “pass-through” charge generates about $1,100 a year for the town of Albion.
Murray saves the town more than that by preventing dead ends on the east side of Albion, Standish said. He would have to flush water lines more often if the lines weren’t connected with Murray.
“I may have to flush 8,000 dollars down the ditch,” Standish told the Town Board. “It wouldn’t hurt us to eliminate that cost to Murray. He is definitely helping the town with residuals.”
Standish worries that Murray could switch to the Monroe County Water Authority. The Albion lines would then have dead ends and wouldn’t be connected with Murray’s.
Albion Town Board members tabled the Murray proposal, which hasn’t been submitted in writing. Albion officials want more information on what the pass-through charge generates for the town and more precise estimates on the flushing costs.
In other action on Monday:
The board approved giving $1,000 to the VFW in Albion to purchase flags and grave markers for veterans. Town Supervisor Matt Passarell, a former VFW commander, abstained from the vote.
The board appointed Russell Olles to the Zoning Board of Appeals. He is the uncle of Jake Olles, an Albion town councilman. Code Enforcement Officer Dan Strong suggested Russell Olles for the position.
The board appointed Issac Robinson to Planning Board. There is another vacancy on that board. David Cristofaro resigned because he is moving out of the town of Albion.
The Town Board voted to increase the rate of pay for a part-time motor equipment operator from $15 to $16.50 per hour, a 10 percent raise. Highway Superintendent Jed Standish said the rate of pay hadn’t been increased since 2008.
