CHAMPLAIN — After nearly two decades in business, Global Fitness & Martial Arts Club may be shutting down for good because of high fees caused by the new municipal water project.
Gym owner Joy Sarbou-Jubert now faces a bill of nearly $330 per quarter to belong to the new water system being built to serve the village and town of Champlain.
She previously paid nothing for her water and believes the new fee could mean the demise of her long-standing enterprise.
CONFLICTING BILLS
Initially, Sarbou-Jubert said the water fee assessed to the gym was 5 EDUs, which is short for estimated dwelling units — a unit of measure used to estimate the amount of water used by a residence or a business.
That amount was based on a number of factors, including the type of business, number of employees and potential growth.
But Sarbou-Jubert knew her establishment didn’t use that much water.
“Each person in my gym would have to take three to four showers and flush the toilets at the same time to use that many EDUs,” she said.
This left her a bill of $565 for the first quarter — which would equate to a total payment of $68,000 over the 30 years.
The gym owner paid the first bill but requested a water meter be installed to monitor her usage and lower her assessment.
After three weeks of monitoring, the meter showed the gym used just 100 gallons of water a day — equating to less than 1 EDU.
During its April meeting, the town board agreed to lower the gym’s water usage not to 1 EDU, but 2.
“I was so mad that I was in tears,” Sarbou-Jubert said. “They’re overcharging me and I want to know how that’s legal.”
Supervisor Larry Barcomb refused to answer why the gym was assessed for an extra EDU. However, Sarbou-Jubert was credited for the difference.
STILL TOO HIGH
Even at the lower fee level, Sarbou-Jubert still says she cannot afford the new tax, which still amounts to nearly $30,000 over the next 30 years.
Sarbou-Jubert said she is afraid the new tax will be the demise of Global Fitness & Martial Arts Club.
The gym has been open for 18 years. For 10 years, Sarbou-Jubert has taken money out of her retirement fund just to make ends meet.
She doesn’t receive a paycheck.
Sarbou-Jubert said if the gym can’t be self-sufficient, they will have to close by the end of summer.
“We love being here,” she said. “We don’t want to close, but we might have to.”
Before throwing in the towel, Sarbou-Jubert intends on doing more investigating, hoping to find a solution to keep the gym up and running for years to come.
Even if the gym closes, Sabou-Jubert, along with over 200 other property owners in the town, will still be responsible for water payments until the property is sold.
In January, letters were mailed to property owners within the new district explaining the new billing system.
The project, which came about to provide a reliable and safe water supply to customers within the Town of Champlain Consolidated Water District, costs $13,420,000. The New York State Drinking Water State Revolving Fund gave the town a $2 million grant toward the project and approved a loan to cover the remainder.
The 3-year loan at zero interest covers the design and construction phases of the project. Upon completion, the loan will be rolled over into 30 years.
The first principal payment is due Jan. 8, 2017.
To generate adequate funds, the town began sending out bills every quarter to all properties within the water district despite whether or not they decide to hook up to the water system.
“We have to make up the money somehow,” Barcomb said.
Similar to the gym, each property in the district was assessed at different EDUs.
One household, for example, is assessed at 1 EDU, not dependent on the size or number of persons within the home. Apartment complexes are assessed at 1 EDU per living quarter. So, a building with two apartments would be assessed for 2 EDUs.
Several businesses approached the town after being billed requesting a reduction in EDUs.
AN Deringer Inc, a company that provides shipping logistics and U.S. customs compliance consulting, was originally assessed at 17 EDUs. The estimate originally included showers. After Branch Manager Scott Yelle explained how the workers do not shower, the property was re-assessed to 6 EDUs.
Other re-assessed properties included Choice Cherry Property Inc, McCormicks Inc and Ridge Runners Shooting Club.
So far, Barcomb said most town property owners have paid their quarterly bills.
None of the town board members live within the district.
VILLAGE ASSESSED DIFFERENTLY
Village residents, on the other hand, don’t pay for the new systems based on EDUs.
Instead, the village water rates are based on gallons used. Rates, said Mayor Greg Martin, were raised from $2.98 to $4.56 per thousand gallons used to cover the cost of the loan and new system.
Martin said he’s received zero complaints from village residents since the water quality will be heightened on several levels.
‘LITTLE BENEFITS’
The new system will reduce 75 percent of the hardness and improve water pressure within households.
About 60 fire hydrants will be added within the municipalities and all water meters will be replaced and updated with a new radio frequency feature to read them faster.
The village, which supplies both municipalities with water from three wells next to the Great Chazy River, currently produces 110,000 gallons of water a day.
The new system, Martin said, will almost double that number.
“There are a lot of little benefits,” he said. “But they add up.”
MOVING FORWARD
Barcomb said planning for the long-awaited project began about eight years ago.
“The project is moving very rapidly now,” Martin said.
Two water towers were recently constructed on West Service Road and Prospect Street for $2.5 million.
Roughly eight miles of pipe will be placed six feet deep along Route 11, West Service Road, New Ridge Road and a few side roads.
Some of those pipes have already been placed, mostly within the village.
Last week, the municipalities issued permits to start laying pipes on several more roads within the town.
“This is going to be a very disruptive summer for residents,” Martin said. “There will be a lot of traffic changes and construction.”
Both municipalities are looking toward a 2017 completion date.
“This is a big step forward for both of us,” Barcomb said. “This will not only help the residents and business owners of today, but ones in the future to further promote economic development.”
To learn more about the plan or get updates, visit townofchamplain.com.
