FROM THE NEWSROOM: (VOTE TODAY) Killingly taxpayers will head to a single polling location today – the Killingly Public Library – to determine whether the town moves forward with what officials say is a necessary upgrade to the towns sewer plant. The project, which is expected to cost nearly $26 million, would see an overhaul of the towns 40-year-old system. Town Engineer David Capacchione says costly emergency repairs have recently been required at the Rogers Pump Station, which is running at less than half capacity. Components for the machinery are no longer made, according to Capacchione, who says that the cost of a temporary fix in a catastrophic failure would cost more than the project that is up for a vote today. Should the project be approved, officials say ratepayers would see an increase to their bills of about $52 a year for four years, or a 70 increase overall. Town Manager Sean Hendricks says the town at large could pay for about ten percent of the project, if the town council approves the move in the future. “Its important to note that the town wouldnt be contributing the ten percent all in one year – it wouldnt be a $2 million outlay. The idea would be for the town to absorb ten percent of the debt service associated with the project, so that means the town would absorb its ten percent over the course of the twenty year loan as well,” said Hendricks. Twenty percent of the project would be funded through a Clean Water grant, with the balance paid over a twenty year period at a two percent interest rate, if the vote passes today. Tune in for the full report.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:22:29 +0000