MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, July 13, to cast ballots on a $3 million, 20-year bond to chip away at a mounting backlog of needed repairs to the town’s water system infrastructure.
The backlog of projects has been created by town officials’ decision to apply a substantial portion of Middlebury’s current water fund balance toward water-related upgrades near the Cross Street Bridge project while the ground in that area is still ripped up by construction. This has meant that other projects have had to be delayed.
The $3 million bond, if endorsed by voters, will allow the town to take advantage of current, attractive municipal interest rates (currently at around 3.89 percent) and will not result in any increase in the municipal water rates. That’s because annual revenues passing into the water fund would comfortably exceed the bond debt service, with reserves left over for other capital projects.
Town officials have complied a list of 20 water main upgrades that could be covered with the bond money over the next three fiscal years.
Specific water main project locations are:
• A 1,332-foot-long stretch along Charles and Water Streets, for an estimated cost of $177,655. This project would be launched this year.
• A 444-foot stretch along Pulp Mill Bridge Road, at an estimated cost of $200,000.
• An 865-foot stretch in the Rolling Acres neighborhood, at an estimated cost of $264,157.
• A 3,600-foot stretch on Foote Street, at an estimated cost of $504,070.
• A 1,815-foot stretch in Painter Hills, estimated at $186,827.
• A 542-foot stretch in the Grey Ledge neighborhood, estimated to cost $72,703.
• A 774-foot stretch on Juniper Lane, at a cost of $90,637.
• A 564-foot stretch at Green Mountain Place, estimated at $101,360.
• A 530-foot stretch on Stewart Lane, estimated at $77,527.
• A combined total of 1,682 feet in the Butternut Ridge area, for $191,042.
• 2,172 feet in South Gorham Lane area, estimated at $327,952.
• 3,950 feet off South Street, for $508,945.
• 1,584 feet on Buttolph Drive, estimated at $195,184.
• 848 feet on Swanage Court, estimated at $123,283.
• 995 feet on Meadow Way, forecast at $127,141.
• 1,364 feet in Woodland Park, estimated at $122,773.
• 981 feet on the Middlebury State Airport grounds, estimated at $60,000.
• 1,875 feet off Case Street, estimated at $300,130.
• 1,481 feet on Washington Street, estimated to cost $295,391.
• 5,723 feet on Route 7 south, estimated at $826,628.
• 1,015 feet on Cady Road, estimated to cost $160,490.
A Monday, July 12 informational meeting will precede the July 13 Australian ballot vote (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the town offices) on the bond. That July 12 meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the municipal building conference room.
Reporter John Flowers is available at [email protected].