SHELBURNE, Vt. (WCAX) – Voters in Shelburne will be weighing in on a $38 million bond measure this coming Election Day to upgrade the town’s aging wastewater treatment facilities.
“The issues that we have been dealing with is constant — manpower, equipment issues, tons of overtime,” said Shelburne Water Quality Superintendent Chris Robinson, who has kept the town’s wastewater facilities running for over 20 years. He says within that time, there’s only been one upgrade. But with the walls molding and essential equipment failing, they need help. “It just has reached the end of its life. When you have actual structural failures of equipment, where the actual frame and actual body of the equipment is actually deteriorating, It is a huge financial impact.”
The town says approval of the bond measure will also help enable new housing by expanding sewage capacity. Only sewer customers will pay, adding about 3% or $30 to sewer bills.
But not everyone is so sure about the vote. “Sometimes I feel like they rush, rush to get something done. They have only got half the facts. Being a taxpayer here in town, there is only so much a retired person can handle,” said Rick Bessette, a local resident.
If approved, the facility on Harbor Road will be upgraded to a pump station that directs the flow to facility number one, about three miles away on Crown Road.
“What that means for an individual homeowner is maybe a $1 a month to service the bonds on this so the town can sustain the investment, provide for new opportunities and businesses and homes in town, take care of the environment,” said Shelburne Town Manager Matt Lawless.
Officials are hoping that construction will start on the two facilities next summer.
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