Probably Have A Bond Rating...Unlike Templeton

• $14.5M water plant tops Shrewsbury town meeting warrant

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  By Elaine Thompson
  Telegram & Gazette Staff
  

  Posted Aug. 23, 2016 at 9:28 PM
  
  
  

  SHREWSBURY- Selectmen closed the 18-article warrant Tuesday night for the Sept. 26 special town meeting.

  The meeting was scheduled to authorize funding for the construction of a $14.5 million water treatment plant. The new plant, which would use biological filtration technology that removes manganese at the source, would be the largest of its kind in New England and one of the largest in the country.

  The town has been having problems with elevated levels of manganese, which have caused discolored or cloudy water conditions since early July. The naturally occurring mineral is found in soil, water and rocks.

  Articles 14-18 of the warrant deal specifically with the town’s water issue.

  • Article 14 seeks $280,000 to flush, clean and improve the water mains, wells and hydrants.

  • Article 15 would authorize spending an additional $95,000 for design of the new treatment facility.

  • Article 16 would transfer water-related funds in the town treasury to the Water System Improvements Account.

  • Article 17 would authorize a traditional bond in the amount of $900,000 toward the construction of the plant.

  • Article 18 would authorize the town to use a 2 percent loan through the state Revolving Fund for $13.6 million for construction.

  In other business, selectmen voted to apply for the Complete Streets program, which funds projects to improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and transit riders.
  

  The program provides municipalities up to $50,000 for technical assistance to help decide where a project would be suitable. Afterward, the municipality can receive an additional $400,000 to construct the project.

  Selectmen also approved the submission of an application for a $4.5 million MassWorks grant to construct an access road to CenTech Park North to help make the site more marketable for development. The town purchased the 66-acre former Allen Farm in the early 2000s for $6.1 million after a Chapter 40B low- to moderate-income housing project was proposed there.

  
  

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  Oh Where, Oh Where, Has Our Water Tank Gone? 

  Oh Where, Oh Where, Can It Be ?

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Where the Water Tank Used To Be