Town of Nichols considers water systems privatization

The Town of Nichols is looking at the possibility of selling its municipal water and waste water systems to a private company. The Nichols Town Board was allegedly approached by SUEZ, an environmental company, which already services water systems in both the Village of Nichols and the Village of Owego. SUEZ is interested in either assuming management responsibility for the systems or buying them completely. A representative from SUEZ says that the Town of Nichols would receive a franchise tax as well as property taxes from SUEZ if the facilities were bought outright. Nichols Town Supervisor Kevin Englebert says that the board is currently looking at the legality of these possibilities.