Commercial Water district

In late 2023, the Town Board introduced an idea to establish a commercial water district.  This unlimited water source would run the length of Rt 17M in Goshen.  The first step was to commission Delaware Engineering to write the Map, Plan and Report.  On May 9th, 2024, a representative from Delaware Engineering came to the Town Board meeting to give an update.  The board was presented with a map of the district, showing the proposed water line placement.  At that meeting, we were told that the plan and report would be available about two months later.  The Town Board voted to pay Delaware Engineering to continue with their work.  It was expressly explained that this was not an approval to establish the district.  That would come only after the Map, Plan and Report was presented.  This report would explain the cost to the taxpayers within the district.  

I have been asking for this report since July, 2024.  Nothing.  I've been told the report wasn't ready.  I've been told the plan had changed.  I've been told it will be in anytime now.  This multi million dollar project is so fouled up now that I have asked that the Board reintroduce the entire plan from scratch.  I've asked at Town Board meetings twice and then put it in writing.  I'm still waiting to hear back.  This is wrong.  Our tax dollars are being spent on a water district -  that by law - must pay for itself.  

Our Town Board wants to develop the RT 17M corridor.   I don't hate this plan.  Good ratable businesses would be an asset to Goshen.  But if we add an unlimited water source, we will experience unlimited growth. Massive warehouses are already in the works and just waiting for this water district to go in. And when I say massive, I mean buildings 4 football fields wide and 2 fields deep.  And they are up to 100 feet tall. 

You know who else needs unlimited water?  High density housing builders specializing in a secular religious community.  Monroe, Blooming Grove, Chester and Bloomingburg have all experienced unattainable growth from these builders.  And what do they all have in common? Water. 

Adding an unlimited supply of water to the west side of town will end us.  Full stop.

Amy's Kitchen came to Town around 2015.  They wanted to set up in our Industrial Zone.  Sounded good to me.  They wanted to pay for a pipeline from the Middletown reservoir system to Goshen.  Ok, have at it.  They wanted to build a church on 121 acres in the Industrial Zone.  Hold on. You want what now? As it turns out, Amy's is heavily involved with Science of the Soul religious institution and they wanted to build their main campus here in Goshen.  I was not at all happy to take 40% of our Industrial Zone off the tax roll.  But we were getting Amy's and that was a big ratable.  There was also a provision that they would build Amy's first, then the church. I made it right in my mind as they received approvals.  Fast forward to 2024.  The Church said Amy's was struggling and they want to build the church first.  I said hell no.  I said if we let them build the church without Amy's, the manufacturing side of this deal would walk away.  At that meeting, Supervisor Joe Betro said, "Chris, Amy's has $36 Million dollars invested in this project, they aren't going to walk away".  Two months later, Amy's walked away.   

So now there is a supply line coming down from Middletown to Goshen.  It is virtually an unlimited supply of water.  During the Amy's Kitchen discussions, it was NEVER said in public that this line would be extended down RT 17M.  There would have been a massive outcry from the public if that had been disclosed.  This is a bait and switch.  

There is a whole book written on how a town establishes a water district.  The big takeaway for now is how it's all paid for.  In a nutshell, only the landowners within the district pay for everything.  When I first spoke on this issue, I asked about the cost.  The Supervisor asked me if I owned property in the proposed district.  I answered that I did not.  He said, and this is a quote, "Then you won't have to pay anything".  As it turns out, this is not true.

The Town Board has authorized payments from the General Fund to pay Delaware Engineering to develop the district.  That is YOUR tax dollars!  So make no mistake, you are paying for this proposed district right now.  We have been told that this money will be paid back after the district is formed.  But that is not a forgone conclusion.  As a matter of fact, for as long as this has dragged on, I'm doubtful that this project will go forward.  And if it doesn't, who's paying us back?  

This is bad.  What you do with your personal money is your business.  You want to gamble, go ahead.  Public funds should never be taken to Vegas in hopes of a big payday.  

The idea of a water district for RT 17M isn't new.  20 years ago politicians were talking about this.  At the time, it was decided that the plan was too costly and out of reach.  The only thing that has changed is the kind of businesses that would settle here.  Warehouses that every other community is rallying against, and the high density special interest religious group that needs water.  If we establish an unlimited water supply on 17M, we will absolutely loose control of that area, and then the Town.  It has happened to other towns in Orange County.  It will happen here.

We need leaders who will put Goshen residents first.  I'm stepping up for our community.