Elected leaders in the town of Moreau are moving forward with a proposed $16 million sewer project. As our Matt Hunter explains, officials believe it will spur economic growth in the town, but some existing business owners are concerned about its cost.

MOREAU, N.Y. – With a number of vacant parcels along Route 9, Town Supervisor Todd Kusnierz believes Moreau is the next local community primed for vast economic growth.

"Everybody is looking here at Moreau. There are a number of developers waiting in the wings," Kusnierz said Monday. "One of the projects that is in the early stages will bring probably the largest number of jobs that our community has in one location."

The challenge, he says, is that developers are unwilling to invest because there are no sewer lines along the business corridor.

“The only thing holding us back at this point in time is sewer infrastructure,” said Kusnierz, who was elected supervisor in this past November’s election after serving on the town board.

Moreau officials have considered adding sewer to the central business district for years. Unlike past proposals that included residential properties, their latest $16 million plan would only connect to commercial properties.

"Of the biggest things we heard is that it is unaffordable to our residential property owners in the commercial corridor," Kusnierz said.

"It’s good to have a sewer upgrade, but the cost for everybody is not affordable," said Steve Bhatti, owner of the Budget Inn motel.

Bhatti, who owns two hotels along Route 9, is one of a number of local business owners who believe the cost to hook up to the line would be too high for commercial properties as well. He says he can't afford the nearly $10,000 a year he'd have to pay.

"Plus the taxes are going to go up because the value of the properties go up if the sewer comes,” Bhatti said. “It’s going to be very hard for me to survive with those numbers."

Kusnierz says the current annual fee projections for each commercial property owner are based on a "worst case scenario" and will go down once new development comes into the town.

"I am confident that the numbers that we have in place now will be reduced by over 50 percent," Kusnierz said.

With the town board set to debate the plan at its next meeting, he believes the project is best for Moreau's future.

"The unfortunate reality is without commercial growth, we are placing a greater emphasis on our residential property owners to pay their taxes,” Kusnierz said.