This can be done with no additional cost to the town or users because
bids for the $7.6 million project came in significantly under budget.
The savings will also allow the service area of the project to be
expanded - another change that the select board approved this week at
its September 27 meeting.
EXPANDED SERVICE AREA
The service area of the project will be expanded to include service to
Farr Lane, Parsonage Lane, Mehuron Drive and Carroll Road. The existing
planned service area included Waitsfield Village, Tremblay Road, Old
County Road, Bridge Street and Irasville.
These two changes in the project will be funded through the existing
loan/grant package which the town has received. The changes total an
estimated $1,073,550. According to members of the task force, who
discussed the changes with the select board this week, these two changes
have the potential to increase the number of connections which will
lower the costs for all users.
Task force members Darryl Forrest, Robin Morris, along with municipal
project manager Henry Erickson presented the recommendation to the
select board and answered questions regarding their discussions with the
funding agency last week.
FUNDED FROM EXISTING LOANS
Task force members explained that the installation costs of the
additional service and connections could be fully funded from the
existing loans and grants and further confirmed that the operating and
maintenance costs were budgeted to be paid by the water system users.
The water project is currently under budget by $1.3 million and Rural
Development, the funding agency, would only allow the monies to be spent
on physical service connections to users who have signed up.
"The funding for the water system users' physical connection costs will
require a permanent easement from each user from the town right of way
to the connection point," said Darryl Forrest, who heads the water task
force. "The users are currently on the hook for the physical connection
costs that average $2,000 to $3,000 each and this change is much needed
in the current economy."
CONNECTION FEE
The funding of the physical connection will be available to users in
Waitsfield and Irasville who have signed a water customer commitment
prior to October 31. The $500 per ERU connection fee will be extended
through October 31. After that time the connection fee will increase to
$3,000.
"A number of users have signed on for connection in Farr Lane, Parsonage
Lane, Mehuron Drive and Carroll Road; initially these town roads were
not included in the project due to budget constraints. Since the water
contracts came in under budget by $1.3 million there is grant funding
available to complete these installations," said Erickson.
The additional water service to Carroll Road will end at the Waitsfield
town line with Fayston. This connection allows the town of Fayston the
ability to have water service extended to the properties on Carroll Road
and Mad Ellen Road.
Water project construction starts this week with directional borings on
Route 100 over to Tremblay Road and south. More information is available
from Henry Erickson either by phone 496-4558 or email
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