By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
SUAMICO – The village board voted unanimously Monday, Nov. 18, to purchase 5.6 acres of land for the possible future location of a new water tower and well.
The village is purchasing parcels at 2185 Northwood Road and 2200 Cedar Lane for $254,500 from Wayne and Connie Kaiser, who also entered into a lease agreement with the village to reside on that land for $1,000 a month and pay all utilities prior to finding somewhere else to live.
Village administrator Alex Kaker said a water system evaluation study updated in 2015 by Cedar Corporation concluded the village did not have an adequate water supply or storage capabilities to meet current and future water demands.
The study identified the property the village is purchasing as an ideal location for a new water tower and well.
Kaker said the land was not for sale until recently when staff had been in contact with the owners to discuss a purchase and subsequent lease agreement.
He said an appraisal for these properties came to $254,500, which the homeowners were agreeable to and wanted to lease the land for a few months as they search for a new home with the intent to vacant the premises by the end of next spring.
Upon purchasing the two parcels, Kaker said he wouldn’t expect the village to construct a water tower or a well until there would be development on the adjacent 50 acres.
He said the property would be purchased with water impact fees, while the village is getting clarification from its legal counsel as to whether the village’s utility could keep the lease money.
Kaker said the Kaisers requested to lease both parcels, rather than just the one where the home is located, and he didn’t see an issue with that.
“It may be a year or two before we actually put up a water tower, depending on how development happens,” he said.