Fredonia Trustee Jon Espersen distanced himself Thursday from fellow Trustee Michelle Twichell’s proposal to pursue legal action against Chautauqua County over water connections.

Espersen clarified the OBSERVER’s statement that he “appeared interested” in Twichell’s proposed resolution. “I was merely acknowledging her right to bring that resolution before the board for a vote,” he wrote in a social media post.

Twichell believes the county did not honor obligations to the village to provide water in an emergency, which she says were laid out in a 2020 contract. The village recently endured a week-long boil order which ended Tuesday. Twichell proposed a resolution last week that could result in legal action against the county over the matter.

Espersen, in a statement later echoed by Department of Public Works Director Scott Marsh, said Wednesday the county is unable to provide through Route 20 connections on either end of the village because of water pressure issues.

The village brought in thousands of cases of bottled water to distribute during the recent boil order. Twichell feels that if the village’s connections with the county-owned North County Water District lines worked properly, Fredonia would not have had to resort to that.

Twichell wants the village to retain its own water system over the long term, but stated Wednesday that the emergency connections with the county are a separate issue.