Moreau Town Supervisor Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. frequently met with large commercial and retail operations that were interested in relocating or expanding to Moreau, only to have each conversation end abruptly when prospective investors learned that was no municipal sewer service. “Businesses are simply not willing or able to operate with the space requirements, expense, and operational challenges associated with large-scale septic systems,” notes Kusnierz. “Without municipal sewer service, the Town has been unable to attract new businesses of a scale that would provide significant tax revenue and job creation.” adds Kusnierz.

In order to attract jobs, expand the tax base, and diversify revenue sources that have been disproportionately shouldered by residential property owners for years, Town leaders determined that extending municipal sewer along the Route 9 commercial corridor was the key to turning this stretch into an economic engine.

The announcement of the sewer extension, followed by securing millions of dollars in state funding, has already significantly impacted property values before the first shovel has gone in the ground.

Leading the Right Team
Ronald J. Laberge, Executive Vice President of Laberge Group, the Albany engineering firm engaged to design and implement the project, credits the Supervisor and his team with strong leadership, transparency, and unrelenting vision for the future of the Town of Moreau – all essential components in the eventual success to extend the municipal sewer line. According to Mr. Laberge, “Having partnered with municipalities on similar projects for decades, I can say that what Supervisor Kusnierz and the Town Board have accomplished is impressive. They took on arguably two of the most difficult topics at hand – infrastructure and taxes – understanding that the economic benefits would far outweigh any potential political cost. It took strong leadership to communicate the benefits that this infrastructure would ultimately have both on jobs and on taxes.” The extension passed a public referendum by a vote of 32 – 29.

Kusnierz notes that navigating the complex technical and political landscape for a project of this magnitude required a concerted effort by a seasoned and professional team. According to the Supervisor, “the most important thing that we did was assemble a top-shelf team of engineers and an attorney that we could partner with to move this process forward. When you’re going to engage in the largest public works project in the history of the Town, you want to make sure you have the right professionals in place. That was the first move I made right out of the gate.”

Funding the Way Forward.

The Town leveraged the demonstrable benefits of the project into financing and grant funding. To fund the $16 million project, the Town secured a NYS Water Grant for $4 million and a 30-year 0% interest hardship loan from the State Environmental Facility Corp. (EFC) for the remainder. This funding reduced the tax burden by almost 200%.

Early Returns Impact Cost to Sewer Rate Payers.

Before the wastewater infrastructure is operational, property has already turned over at unprecedented rates, with several large sales and many promising inquiries. This corridor is now one of the hot new opportunities in the County, with a number of business investments in place.  These business investments, which were not factored into the sewer district calculation, have the potential to reduce the cost per individual landowner by 20% or more before the first bill goes out. In addition, the extension has had a positive impact on land value. It has been estimated that since the sewer was approved, developers have added tens of millions in assessed value.

This infrastructure project has the potential to positively impact the economy of this community and the surrounding region for years, if not decades, to come.