BY MATT LINDSEY

North Country This Week

LOUISVILLE — The Town of Louisville could soon have 95% of homes receiving municipal water if voters decide to extend the town’s water system.

The extension of public water service would include portions of State Highway 37, County Route 36 and CR 14, according to Larry Legault, town supervisor.

A public hearing on proposed Water District No. 4 is planned tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the town offices on SH 37. This is the first of a series meetings where residents can find out more information and ask questions.

Legault expects the cost would be about $800 for a homeowner annually to be added to the water district.

In order to do that, he says the town needs to apply for more grant funding, which he feels is attainable.

The cost of the project is estimated at $5.8 million. The town has already received a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program, and a $2.4 million loan from USDA Rural Development .

A March vote is planned.

“We feel voters would accept $800,” he said.

Legault added that the previous water district votes had passed almost unanimously with less than 5% opposing.

About 150 or 200 homes would benefit from the expansion.

Legault said there is some farmland, a local store and other land that has potential for development that would reap the benefits as well.

Some residents have had issues with their wells and this would fix that issue.

“It’s something that’s needed,” he said. “People don’t know what is in their well or if it will run dry.”

He said residents impacted would also have water when the power goes out thanks to a generator. People would still be able to flush the toilet and get a drink of water, for example.

The expansions would begin on CR 36 from the existing water tower, go to Chase Mills, across the bridge, down CR 14, back to SH 37 and loop back to the town line.