http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110719/NEWS02/707199876
Published July 19, 2011 in the Rutland Herald
Springfield to consider engineering contract for dam
Springfield may consider Weathersfield dam contract
By Susan Smallheer
SPRINGFIELD — The ongoing saga of what to do with the town-owned Weathersfield Reservoir is about to take a step forward.
Town Manager Robert Forguites said Monday that he would be asking the Select Board Monday evening to consider awarding an engineering contract to evaluate the dam.
Forguites said he had recently sent out a request for proposals to engineering firms throughout New England, and had received seven replies. He said that the firms’ proposals ranged in cost from $15,000 to $70,000 to evaluate the dam and reservoir.
“I don’t know what the board will do, but we will discuss it tonight,” said Forguites. “They may want to talk about it some more.”
He said he got a list of qualified engineering firms from the Agency of Natural Resources because they had done similar work for the state.
“It will basically be a study of what the condition of the reservoir is and the approximate costs for repairing it, replacing it or breaching it,” said Forguites.
The state has been pressuring Springfield to do something about the dam, which has been allowed to deteriorate over the past several years. Last year, after the overwhelming public vote in favor of continued ownership, a prison work crew cleared brush and trees from the dam and spillway.
The town voted in 2010 not to sell the dam and reservoir, or even a small piece of land in Weathersfield the town owns adjoining the reservoir. While there is a small group of people dedicated to getting the reservoir back online as a backup water source, many voters said they didn’t have enough information to make a good decision about the reservoir’s future role.
The town once got all its water from the reservoir, which is located off Wellwood Orchard Road, about a mile from the town line. The dam was built in 1903, and it once held 56 million gallons of water.
But the town stopped using the reservoir in the 1970s when the town established the Gilman well supply off Fairground Road.
Forguites said money for the engineering study would come from the $100,000 which voters set aside about 25 years ago to study the dam. That fund has accrued interest and now stands at about $125,000, Forguites said.
The town pays property taxes to Weathersfield for the reservoir.
The town is about to have the property logged, which includes about 92 acres around the reservoir. The Windsor County forester is reviewing the lands for logging, said Forguites.
Townspeople have steadfastly refused to sell the reservoir, which state engineers say needs a major upgrade, and they have questioned the safety of the dam’s spillway.
A detailed engineering study would give the town more updated information on exactly how expensive it would be to repair the dam and potentially keep the reservoir as a back-up municipal water system. The last estimates, now about 10 years old, put the figure in the millions of dollars.
Can anyone please explain to me the logic of this study? Springfield is a shrinking town, with an already ample, safe, modern, ground water source. A system with it's network of cisterns that has come at great cost with the promise of ample fire protection and a lifespan of generations to come. It's superior to the distant, open reservoir in every respect. Yet the idiots that run this town are prepared to squander funds to study it. WTF is it that we don't already know?!!!!!
ReplyDeletePlease keep in mind, the vote to not sell the abandoned "reservoir" (now actually a mud hole) was spearheaded by one of the infamous, geriatric do-gooders in the community. Horrible thing when simple minds have too much free time and can leverage other fools with fear.
Maybe Anonymous should at least be courageous enough to sign his Rants.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Tony
ReplyDeleteI am with you Tony on this one!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, if you are so enlightened and committed to reform and improvement in Springfield and Vermont, why not run for public office? By all means replace the "idiots" presently in office and advocate and implement your policies. Let’s go, please!
I disagree. Given the proclivity of Springfield residents who own guns to use them on other people remaining anonymous seems very prudent.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The need for anyone to reveal who they are is unnecessary in this town.The only reason any individual would want to know that would be to harass, threaten or intimidate them or possibly refuse them service. I would caution Tony to refrain from making such comments. Lets remember you have made a living off the backs of the medicaid and welfare recipients. Let's not present a need to bring out skeleton's in anyones closet.
ReplyDeleteI want to clarify my post above. I don't want it to sound as if I was saying Tony has skeleton's.That was not my intent at all and after reading the post I realized it sounded very bad. What I was trying to convey is that we don't need to throw stones at each other or give anyone the opportunity to make accusations otherwise. I have an opinion about the above but it in no way is to seem as though I am making accusations otherwise.I will note that the above is an active longstanding contributer to the community so please do not misread the meaning of that statement.
ReplyDeleteWe ALL need to channel our energies toward a solution to bring this town out of the mire it is in. Can we please channel our energy into attending town meetings and voicing our opinions, thoughts and desires rather than attacking each other online.
Anonymous 7/22/11,
ReplyDeleteOh, all-wise and all-knowing "Anonymous" please do document for us when the last politically motivated shooting in Springfield, VT took place?
GreenMountaineer
Hey GreenMounainteer, or is it GreenMountaineer, since you cannot even spell your anonymous name correctly twice in a row, maybe you should clam up. Seems to me there have been at least three shootings in this wonderful town recently, and one person just convicted of second degree murder. But I guess you probably think he shot someone in the back for self defense too. Since you guys seem to have it all figured out, what's your grand solution??
ReplyDeleteOh Great, grand and wise Anonymous,
ReplyDeletePlease do elaborate on the "three shootings" recently in town. Where, when, and who?
GreenMountaineer
Hey Green mountaineer- Read the most recent article...Dumbass
ReplyDelete