Barre Town seeks funds for 2 water projects
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By David Delcore TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: March 16, 2009
BARRE TOWN – Town officials will try to tap federal stimulus funds to help pay for a pair of water projects.
Acting on the advice of their consulting engineer, selectboard members agreed last week to ask for more than $1 million in stimulus money that is believed to be available for water improvement projects and other infrastructure activities.
According to Town Manager Carl Rogers, the board agreed to submit two separate applications before last Friday's deadline in hopes that one or both will be approved.
Rogers said one of the applications involves shelved plans to replace roughly two-tenths of a mile of water line on Mill Street, between Websterville Road and the bridge near Route 302 in East Barre.
Lance Phelps, president of Phelps Engineering in Middlebury, encouraged the town to seek funding for a project that was previously permitted by the East Barre Fire District, but placed on the back burner for financial reasons. Although Phelps indicated the 2002 plans may need to be tweaked, he informed Rogers the project could be put out to bid relatively quickly – improving its chances of being approved.
In a recent letter to Rogers, Phelps indicated the project could be "eligible for a 50 to 75 percent subsidy in the form of principal loan forgiveness."
Acting on Phelps recommendation, Rogers said the board agreed to apply for $450,000 for the two-phased project.
Additionally, Rogers said the board agreed to submit a second two-phased application – this one to help finance ongoing plans for municipal water system. The total application is for $570,000, but well over half – $344,000— would finance testing, permitting and developing two wells the town hopes to have on line later this year. The second phase of the grant – roughly $226,000 – contemplates the future addition of a third well that would accommodate increased consumption that would accompany the possible expansion of the system.
In his letter to Rogers, Phelps acknowledged securing funding for the well work could be "more problematic" given unanswered questions associated with yet-to-be-completed environmental reviews.
The board's decision to submit both applications came on a night when Rogers said they received a brief, but encouraging, update on the progress of the well development project.
Although data is still being analyzed and quality testing has yet to be conducted, he said there appears to be ample quantity to serve the town's needs without buying water from neighboring Barre.
Town officials are optimistic that local water rates will drop if they discontinue their wholesale customer relationship with the city.
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