Lee, NYPublished •Verified 2026-10-22

Town of Lee Votes Nov. 3 on $21.6M Water District No. 2

Why it matters here

Nearly 450 properties just north of Rome would each pay about $950 a year whether or not they hook up, so the vote decides a long-term bill as well as clean water.

Graphic poster illustration of The Erie Canal in the Mohawk Valley
Illustration: The Erie Canal, Mohawk Valley

Property owners in the proposed Town of Lee Water District No. 2 vote Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Lee Town Hall, 5808 Stokes Lee Center Road. The $21.6 million project would bring public water to the southwestern part of town, the Rome Sentinel reported.

Who can vote: only property owners inside the district; the town has notified them.

What it costs: about $950 a year for a typical household, charged to every property in the district, connected or not. Nearly 450 properties are included.

Why it's proposed: private wells in the area can be contaminated, and six mobile home parks with about 235 residents face water-quality and upkeep rules. The plan also adds fire hydrants.

What happens next: a yes vote doesn't start work. The town still has to line up grants over roughly the next year, with construction in 2027–28 and completion expected in June 2029. The board had planned to decide in July, but a resident petition forced the referendum, and some residents at the latest information session said their questions went unanswered.

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