As part of the $12,500,000 water project, Evans residents were promised by town officials at a public meeting that water rates would not increase for 20 years. The water project hasn’t even been completed and rates are going up. Minimum bills will be going up sixty cents. Either Pordum is confused and thinks it’s 2029 or this is another example of how town officials are not completely honest with residents.
The town also put out to bid more work on the water project without telling residents the specifics of the work to be done.
It is rumored that the water project is already about $3,000,000 over budget. Self proclaimed “Frugal Fran” is burying taxpayers in debt. It will take generations to pay back all this debt. In a few years, Pordum will likely move to Florida where he owns a house and two condos and where his daughter and brother live. Residents not planning on moving out of Evans any time soon might want to start paying attention to how our stealth town board is spending “OUR MONEY”. When you see Rip Van Pordum, ask him provide a complete accounting of how funds have been spent on the water project.
Here’s an example: An Evans property owner that was one of Pordum’s campaign contributors, will receive @$72,000 in paving on “PRIVATE PROPERTY” (likely illegal) as part of the water tower component of the water project. Alternate sites were given little to no real consideration.
There’s likely more examples like this but with little disclosure on water project spending, few residents really know.
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A water tower must be built. That is an accepted fact BUT costs for such should be a MAJOR factor (another offered property would be cheaper to build on as well as on a higher elevation of land meaning shorter tower needed)but also the age of water lines it’ll be flowing into (approx 10 years old versus 35 – 40 years old)and impact on residents/water bill/tax payers HOMES. The ZBA has ruled there is no discernible impact on 22 homes but a 185′ tall by 60′ to 80′ wide water tower is certainly a sight to be reckoned with and should have been considered when they approved the variances. Like looking at the Buffalo Main Street Court building in height and the width of a double tractor-trailer at the top. Anyone looking to build a house with that for a view? How about buy one? Gee, what do you mean you don’t want to pay fair markey value? I’m cynical and disheartened at this point.