North Creek Voters Approve Sewer District

NORTH CREEK, NY – After decades of planning, residents and business owners in the hamlet of North Creek will soon have access to the community’s first public sewer system.

For more than 80 years, community leaders in the Town of Johnsburg have identified the economic imperative for wastewater infrastructure in the hamlet of North Creek. Existing businesses on Main Street are limited due to small lot sizes that do not meet modern standards.

The initiative became a reality this past Tuesday when voters decided to create the sewer district by a vote of 34-14.

The total cost for the district is estimated at $7.6 million, with more than half of the cost being provided by State and Federal grants, which includes Empire State Development, USDA Rural Development, and a joint funding award from the Northern Border Regional Commission and U.S. Economic Development Administration. The remainder of the project will be financed through low-interest, long-term loans from USDA Rural Development.

“We are very fortunate to have a funded sewer installation that will help our North Creek area prosper over the next couple years!” commented Chuck Barton, former COO, Barton Mines and CEO, Warren Washington Industrial Development Agency.  

The grant applications and financing package was prepared by Chris Belden, AICP, Economic Development Coordinator at the Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Board (LCLGRPB).

“We were able to demonstrate the need to our state and federal partners that investing in rural communities, like North Creek, promotes equitable economic outcomes for current property owners and future generations,” Belden stated.  

Support for the district was made earlier this summer by the North Creek Sewer Committee. “The EDC is proud to have worked with the community to achieve today’s results. We will continue to work with all to ensure this investment leads to greater prosperity in North Creek and Warren County,” said Jim Siplon, EDC Warren County President.

Belden added that the provision of the municipal sewer system held potential for reversing business vacancies on Main Street, providing greater opportunities for business expansion, and improving employment opportunities for residents.

“This is very exciting and a huge opportunity for the Town of Johnsburg,” Johnsburg Town Supervisor Andrea Hogan said, after hearing about the successful district vote.

The LCLGRPB is one of nine Economic Development Districts in New York State, designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The organization is focused on supporting locally-based, regionally-driven economic and community development projects and connecting communities and organizations with state and federal funding dollars.