Ledyard official seeks support for $5 million Aljen Heights water project

Ledyard — The first two phases of the proposed Aljen Heights water project will cost each household around $5,000 over 20 years, Town Council Chairman Terry Jones said Monday.

Residents will be able to choose to pay the cost up front or pay a quarterly bill, Jones said.

More than 40 residents of the Aljen Heights neighborhood attended the more than hour-long meeting Monday at which Jones asked them for their support in passing the project at a referendum later this month.

Residents asked about the cost of the first two phases of the proposed water expansion project, water quality in the future and the installment of and upgrades to drainage and fire hydrant systems.

The bond for nearly 80 percent of the water project would have a 2 percent interest rate. The other 20 percent of the funding would come from the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Clean Water Fund.

On May 17, in addition to voting on the town’s proposed 2011-12 budget, residents will vote on bonding nearly $5 million to improve the Aljen Heights water system and $3 million over three years to improve roads.

“We want to know if we have your support because if we don’t, there’s no point in going forward with this project, which is primarily for your benefit,” Jones said. “We also don’t want people to be surprised and go to vote and see two bond referendum questions and vote ‘no’ for everything, which happens when people get surprised.”

A meeting on the issue for all Ledyard residents is scheduled for 7 p.m. this Thursday at the Ledyard Center School.