Woodstock voters approve two measures tied to purchase of water company
Dale Johnson, of Woodstock, casts his ballot with a flourish at the Woodstock, Vt., Town Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 10, during a vote on two bonds totaling more than $8 million to improve and protect the town’s water supply. One for $1.6 million would fund the purchase of the 358-acre Vondell Reservoir property and the other, for $6.7 pay for three infrastructure improvement projects. "We shouldn't be purchasing the aqueduct unless they set up a water district," said Johnson who is not served by the water system. "I should not be paying for someone else's water." (Valley News - James M. Patterson) James M. Patterson
A temporary water line runs along the sidewalk of the Elm Street Bridge in Woodstock, Vt., on Dec. 10, 2024, one year and five months after a pipe suspended under the bridge burst during the July 2023 flooding. The town's residents voted Tuesday to decide on a $6.7 million bond that would provide $800,000 for a permanent replacement under the bridge and fund three more improvement projects to the town's water system. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) A temporary water line runs along the sidewalk of the Elm Street Bridge in Woodstock, Vt., on Dec. 10, 2024, one year and five months after a pipe suspended under the bridge burst during the July 2023 flooding. The town's residents voted Tuesday to decide on a 6.7 million bond that would provide 800,000 for a permanent replacement under the bridge and fund three more improvement projects to the town's water system. (Valley News - James M. Patterson)
| Published: 12-11-2024 2:45 PM |
WOODSTOCK — Residents voted to approve $8.3 million in bonds to purchase water company property and fund capital improvement projects for the water system Tuesday, following months of town-wide discussion on the acquisition.
In Tuesday’s vote, Woodstock residents approved two separate warrant articles.
The first, requested the town acquire a $1.6 million bond to purchase the Vondell Reservoir, a 358-acre property in West Woodstock that is owned by the Woodstock Aqueduct Co. and primarily used for recreation. The vote passed 360-171.
The second vote requested residents approve $6.7 million in bonds to fund three improvement projects for the water system; this article passed 392-157.
Tuesday’s vote followed almost daily public forums since the end of September between selectboard members, town staff and residents. In an October vote residents agreed to purchase the water system from the struggling Woodstock Aqueduct Co. for $920,000. This funding came from the town’s unassigned fund balance, while the debt service for the reservoir and improvement projects will be repaid through a mix of taxes and water usage rates. The repayment plan was highly contested by residents throughout October and November, many of whom disagreed on what portion of the bonds should be repaid through rates for residents on the water system and how much should be recouped through property taxes.
Now that both sales have been approved, the town expects to close on the properties in a joint sale sometime in the spring, Municipal Manager Eric Duffy said Wednesday.
This delay is caused by a few factors. There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period for residents to submit petitions against the vote. This window has passed for the October water system purchase but the town plans to “wrap” the purchases of the water system and reservoir together in one sale. It will also take some time to review the sale details with attorneys and close on the property, Duffy explained.
The only thing that could derail the purchase is if residents petition against the reservoir sale before Jan. 9, Duffy said, but given the town’s approval he expects that this is unlikely to happen.
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The water system serves over 770 connections primarily in Woodstock Village, including 96 fire hydrants; about 3,000 people live in Woodstock.
The private Woodstock Aqueduct Co. has had ongoing issues maintaining the system including falling behind on repairs from flooding last July, weather events leaving residents with no potable water for as much as ten days, and pressure issues that mean new connections cannot be added to the system and most of the town’s fire hydrants are out of compliance with state regulations. Through municipal ownership, the town government hopes they can make repairs and resolve system issues more efficiently using low cost loans and grant funding that is not available to the private owners.
The capital improvement projects aim to address some of the system issues, though the town expects future capital improvement projects and ongoing repairs will be needed.
The first project is $800,000 to install a suspended water pipe under the Elm Street bridge. Since July 2023, when a pipe buried under the Ottauquechee River burst and left residents with no potable water for 10 days, a temporary pipe has been on the bridge’s sidewalk.
The town is “hoping” to get this project started in the early spring, Duffy said. It is likely to be finished first because its estimated to take less than a year to complete.
The second project is $5 million to upgrade the system’s water transmission main that runs from Cox District Road to Route 4 and into the village center. This undersized main is responsible for the ongoing water pressure issues and must be repaired to bring the hydrants into compliance with state regulations.
The last project is a $900,000 well replacement project. The well is one of three total and two functional wells in the system. By replacing it, the town can increase water flow in the system.
Both the well and transmission main projects are expected to start “as soon as possible,” but the projects will to take one to three years, Duffy explained.
Clare Shanahan can be reached at cshanahan@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.
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