The project will cost a total of $738,000. So far, the town has invested $223,000 in the plant. The town has a line of credit to fund the rest of the project, which will cost $20,000 a year in interest over the next six years. After that, town commissioners hope water tap fees will pay back the construction debt.

"This is not a new annexation," Commissioner Richard Dietrick said. "This is not bringing more land into the town. We have an obligation to supply property owners with water. We're not going to see any tap fees unless we have water."

"Hopefully, within six years, people will be buying our taps,"Commissioner Jennifer Falcinelli said . The water plant construction will also allow the local volunteer fire company to proceed with new building plans.

Commissioner Larry Bussard voted against the construction plan. "Here we are, taking on more debt," he said. "I don't want to put the town into any more debt."

If the town waits to build the water plant, construction costs could rise. Falcinelli added that the town has $223,000 invested in the project, but has nothing to show for it, Dietrick said.

Annexation petition

The town board forwarded a petition for annexation from AC Jets to the town planning commission. The property owner, AC Jets, wants permission for a development that would include a store up to 75,000 square feet in size. Town officials have already told the property owner that 60,000 square feet is the maximum size for a store in the town limits. In comparison, the local Safeway takes up 38,000 square feet.

The property owner plans to pay for wells to provide water. The same property owner applied to get land for a development annexed last year, but commissioners said that petition was sloppily done.

"I don't have a real good feeling about this," Dietrick said. Forwarding the petition to the planning commission does not mean the board is endorsing it, town commissioners said.

Veterans Day

The town will have a Veterans Day ceremony at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the town War Memorial on Franklin and South Church streets. At the ceremony, Cub Scouts will read the names of the veterans on the monuments. The ceremony will take place rain or shine.

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