PLEASE COMPLETE THE ENFIELD WATER SURVEY BEFORE MARCH 26, 2021    

All of us in Enfield rely on wells for our drinking water.  In order to help protect the quantity and quality of our water, the Town of Enfield Water Protection Committee is working with the New York Rural Water Association to develop a drinking water protection plan.  An initial step in the process is to collect information on groundwater resources, water use, and the nature of water supply issues in Enfield. 

Please take a few minutes and complete the following water well survey. Responses to this survey will be confidentially sent to the New York Rural Water Association.  Please reply by March 26th. Thank you very much for your assistance!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EnfieldWellSurvey

Note that paper copies of the survey are available at the Enfield Food Pantry in Community Building and the Town Hall at168 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, NY 14850

PLEASE COMPLETE THE TOMPKINS COUNTY SEPTIC SYSTEM REPLACEMENT FUNDING SURVEY BEFORE MARCH 14, 2021

Tompkins County is applying for a grant that could pay for 100% of the costs of repairing or replacing septic systems for some income-eligible households. These systems often cost more than $10,000 to replace – a major expense for most households.

 

In order to successfully obtain grant funding, Tompkins County must demonstrate the need for funding. To assist in this effort, Tompkins County is asking for the public’s help to measure interest and need by filling out a brief survey. 

 

If Tompkins County is successful in obtaining funding, there would be no cost to income-eligible households for the septic system replacements. 

 

You should complete the survey if:
• Your septic system has to be pumped a lot, has backed up into the home, or is otherwise struggling to function; OR
• Your septic system is more than 20 years old; OR
• Your septic system is impacting a drinking water well.

 

The information submitted by residents will be used to meet a grant requirement – a waiting list of low-to moderate-income households interested in this funding. If funds are awarded to Tompkins County, the list may be used to notify eligible households that funds are available.  The information collected will not be used for any other purposes.

 

Due to the limited time before the grant application is submitted, responses are requested by March 14, 2021. The survey can be found here: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TCSepticFunds

For assistance, contact Tompkins County Environmental Health at 607-274-6688.

 

BECOME AN ENERGY NAVIGATOR – APPLY BY MARCH 19, 2021

Learn concrete ways to help others (and yourself) reduce energy costs and cut down on carbon emissions.  The Energy Navigator volunteer program is accepting applications through Friday, March 19th.

 

Trained volunteer Energy Navigators help people save money and live more comfortably by sharing information with community members about free and affordable steps that income-eligible households can take toward saving money on energy bills. With support from program staff, Navigators connect residents to incentives, rebates and resources for energy efficiency work, switching to renewable heat, and going solar!

 

This year's training will be held online via Zoom, on 8 consecutive Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm, starting April 14th.Learn more and apply at:

https://www.getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/energy-navigators

And please help spread the word about this excellent opportunity!

 

 

Ithaca City School District proposing new boilers at Enfield Elementary School

Ithaca City School District 2019 Proposed Capital Project
New Boilers at Enfield Elementary School

Make your voice heard at one or more of these events:

Public Hearing:  May 13, 7:30 pm in the Board Room, 400 Lake Street

Community Conversation:  May 14, 5:30 pm in the Board Room, 400 Lake Street

Community Conversation: May 15, 5:30 pm at DeWitt Middle School, 560 Warren Road

It’s great news that the ICSD plans to replace the existing Enfield Elementary School boilers and associated equipment that has reached the end of its useful service life with more energy efficient equipment.  However, we believe the proposed new, improved boilers, though more efficient than the current ones, will still require fossil fuel.  (We have not been able to verify the exact planned replacement equipment with the ICSD facilities department.)

If you would like to encourage the ICSD to invest in less fossil-fuel-intensive energy sources for heating such as geothermal, heat pumps, and solar, we encourage you to attend one of the above meetings to make your thoughts heard.  At the same time they’re good for the planet, these solutions can be money savers over time.

The vote on the entire Capital Project, of which the Enfield boilers is only a piece, is on May 21.