Select board hears -1.5% loan reduces Chester water project cost by $800,000

By Shawn Cunningham
© 2015 Telegraph Publishing LLC

In a short meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, the Chester Select Board heard an update on the water project, which comes up for a vote next Tuesday, Sept. 29, and a preliminary offer to build the town a new radio/cell tower that would replace the one – which is near it’s capacity – on the Pinnacle.

David Pisha gives a power point presentation on the water project. Engineer Naomi Johnson stands at the far right.

Town Manager David Pisha and Dufresne Group engineer Naomi Johnson gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the well-known facts of the water project but with special emphasis on the new financing package that was offered to the town by the State Drinking Water Loan Fund.

The earlier funding proposal included a loan for the work at 3 percent for 24 years based on a median household income of $50,000 for the water district. A recent survey showed that the actual household income was $33,840. The terms of the loan are income sensitive and were reduced to -1.5 percent for 30 years.

The negative interest rate acts like an additional payment made on behalf of the water district and reduces the cost of the project by $800,000. This means that the water users would borrow $3.7 million and only have to pay back $2.9 million.

Chester resident Charlea Baker asked whether there would be an appraisal of the land that is being purchased as a site for a 330,000 gallon water tank. The land, which was assessed for $303,300 in 2008 is being purchased for $399,000. In response to a question, Julie Hance, assistant to the town manager, said that the asking price started at $490,000.

Pisha explained that the town could walk away from the land purchase and use the property that it owns behind Green Mountain Union High School, but that building a road to that site and constructing the piping back to the main would add about $1 million to the project. Pisha also explained that the town would be saving on road construction done on the property after Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and not included in the 2008 assessment.

New cell tower

Pisha told the board that VELCO  — the Vermont Electric Co. — has wanted to put a whip antenna on the tower at the Pinnacle, but that the structure has nearly reached its capacity and that Verizon still holds an option that would push it to the limit.

To remedy this situation, VELCO has proposed building a new tower to replace the current structure. The new tower would be about 10 feet taller than the existing tower and the VELCO whip antenna would be at the top. According to Pisha, the new tower would accommodate every antenna on the current tower plus Verizon and have capacity to spare.

The board asked Pisha to explore the offer with VELCO. “It sounds like a win-win for the town,” said board member Arne Jonynas.

New alignment of Popple Dungeon Road awaits paving. The old alignment is down and to the right.

Popple Dungeon Road, Rod & Gun Club tax exemption

Pisha commended the road crew on the work it has done on realigning a section of Popple Dungeon Road, noting that the original plans had to be modified on almost a daily basis and that Dufresne Group was helpful in this.

The project moved the road away from a steep embankment that leads down to the south branch of the Williams River. The improved drainage and planting of trees along the former alignment are meant to stop the erosion of the bank. The paving of the project is out to bid.

Pisha also noted that VTrans is ready to move forward with changes to the corner of Maple and Main streets, which are intended to make turns by large truck less disruptive. Johnson said that the town needs to move ahead with acquisition of the right of way either by a donation of about 3 feet of land at the corner or with an appraisal and purchase of that land. Charlie Record – the landowner – had appeared at the previous board meeting to discuss the acquisition and had agreed to the 3-foot number.

Sign featured on the Chester Rod & Gun Club website.

Jonynas again brought up the question of the exemption from property tax for the Chester Rod and Gun Club. At the Sept. 2 meeting, he had asked if the tax exemption was in return for having the range open to the public.

Jonynas noted at that time that he had heard from a resident that using the facility now requires a membership.

According to town reports, voters at town meetings have given four properties exemption from municipal and education taxes.

In addition to the Rod and Gun Club and Masonic Lodge, these include the Gassetts Grange and the Green Mountain Softball League field. This is the last year of exemption for all  but the Grange property and must be agreed upon at Town Meeting in 2016 to continue.

SAPA tries out live streaming

SAPA Executive Director Jared Gunnell, right, and cameraman Ed Huse check the setup for their live streaming test.

Springfield Area Public Access television, which records local public meetings for broadcast on its cable channels, had a successful experiment with live streaming on Wednesday night.

According to Executive Director Jared Gunnell, SAPA intends to broadcast live streams of select board meetings on Comcast Channel 10.  Gunnell told The Telegraph that if they can make the arrangements, SAPA will also live stream the Sept. 28 informational meeting on the town water project.