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Lake and Valley Clarion NewspaperGenesee Country MagazineClarion Communications

Water wars break out as county pushes for authority
Avon town and village want different sources

Chapter II: the First Shot is Fired

The Clarion's first real report on the animosity brewing between Avon village and Avon town was the December 8, 1994 headline, "Town to village: Go jump in the lake-Town of Avon says no to joint water filtration plant." The story revealed the basic difference of opinion between village and town, which would fuel the water war over the next five years.

The Town of Avon was headed by Jim Steele, also chairman of the Livingston County Board of Supervisors. With the formation of a county water authority pending, the town looked to the authority to supply water for both Avon town and village from Hemlock Lake. The village disliked the idea of surrendering control of its source and system. It wanted to build a filtration plant serving itself and its traditional customer-the town-using the traditional Conesus Lake source.

In a December 22 story, "Town and Village still agree to disagree," both sides began an exercise which would become tiresome over the next few years: presenting figures which "proved" that their respective source option was the most economical.

Avon village trustee Joe Daley had by this time become a prominent spokesman for the village's point of view. Under the John Whitney village administration, Daley had been given the task of handling water matters. He would continue in that capacity, with even greater influence, when the new Richard Burke administration took charge of the village.

Back in Livonia, in contrast to the Avon situation, Town Supervisor Fran Kosakowski and Village Mayor Jim Stewart, and the respective boards, were in agreement about water. The town would take over the village water system, including pumping facilities at Hemlock.

The creation of the Water & Sewer Authority was approved by the state legislature in July, 1995. In September a seven member Authority board of directors would be appointed. In an attempt to lure the Village of Avon into joining the Hemlock source plan, Joe Daley was given one of the director memberships.

In addition to supplying Hemlock water to Avon, the authority also set sights on providing Hemlock water, via Livonia, to the Town of Conesus east lake area.

In a resolution of intent reported October 5, 1995, the Avon Village Board forge ahead with plans to build a filtration plant with a designed capacity to serve the village only, not the town.

The Clarion was resorting to military metaphors with the November 30 headline, "Water battle bubbles over in Avon." "We've got a real tug of war going on here," Mayor Richard Burke said.

The December 7 Clarion reported the Village of Avon offer to give the Authority half-ownership in the filtration plant. The offer would be declined.

In a resolution reported December 21, the Avon Town Board officially resolved to commit its water properties into the hands of the new authority. "We want to get out of the water business," said Councilman George Cullinan.

Back to Chapter 1: Brewing Animosity

Forward to Chapter 3: Efforts at Reconciliation

 

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