The Waitsfield Select Board is inviting residents, business owners and community members to an Infrastructure Summit Tuesday, February 17, to discuss the town’s infrastructure needs and long-term investments that leaders say will shape the community’s future.
The free event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the United Church of Christ Village Meeting House, with light refreshments offered. Organizers say the summit will review the town’s current infrastructure, highlight challenges, and outline potential funding strategies, including the possible adoption of a Local Option Tax.
Key municipal needs and assets such as the town garage, bridges and culverts, the fire station and wastewater system will be among the priorities addressed. The town’s ongoing wastewater initiative and possible bonding for a new town garage are expected to feature prominently in discussions.
WASTEWATER PROJECT
Waitsfield voters in June 2024 approved a bond to pursue grants and loans to construct a municipal wastewater system for Waitsfield Village and Irasville. The estimated cost of the system is about $15 million, with planning, design and construction planned to proceed largely using state and federal funds so that taxpayers pay no direct cost beyond user fees, according to town project material. The treatment facility will be located at the town-owned Munn site and provide collection and treatment for an estimated 89,000 gallons per day.
In addition to wastewater planning, infrastructure challenges include the aging Meadow Road bridge over the Mad River. It has deteriorated to the point that the select board recently instituted an eight-ton weight limit to avoid closure, a measure that affects truck traffic and detours heavier vehicles away from the crossing.
Earlier studies and planning efforts also identified the need for a replacement or substantial rehabilitation of the bridge, part of a network of town-owned structures needing attention.
TOWN GARAGE
The summit’s agenda also highlights the town garage, where board members have been reviewing engineering proposals and evaluating costs for a facility officials say is long overdue. This fall the town approved a $12,0000 preliminary engineering and design contract for the town garage in anticipation of bringing a proposal to town voters as early as this fall. The contract is with Breadloaf Engineering.
Waitsfield leaders say the summit is intended to be a community-focused meeting to build shared understanding of challenges and resources.
LOCAL OPTION TAX
The summit will include an explanation of how a Local Option Tax – a 1% tax on rooms, meals, alcohol and retail sales allowed by recent Vermont law – could help address long-term infrastructure needs. Under new state statutes, towns can adopt an LOT without charter changes, and revenue could begin as early as fiscal 2027 if voters approve it. Last month, the select board approved an LOT vote on the ballot for Town Meeting in March.
At a January select board meeting, officials discussed how LOT revenue might support bridge and culvert work, road paving, hazard mitigation, fire and road department facilities, wastewater infrastructure and even a new town garage. Planning district analysis for Waitsfield showed that first-year proceeds could total about $400,000 and rise to roughly $600,000 in a full year.
You might also like
