WOODSTOCK, Vt. (WCAX) – Woodstock residents will go to the polls to decide whether to approve millions in upgrades to the town’s newly purchased water system.
Water flow issues have plagued the town for years. But after voters approved the acquisition of a private water company back in October, the town is looking to make a major investment in the future.
Despite the fact that there is plenty of water in and around Woodstock, the water system infrastructure is aging. Because of that, the 96 hydrants in town do not meet state pressure standards.
“Right now there is a moratorium on connections until the deficiencies for the pressure have been addressed,” said Laura Powell of the Woodstock Select Board.
The initial step to fix the problem was acquiring the Woodstock Aqueduct Company. Now, residents have additional decisions to make. The first is to decide whether to purchase 358 acres currently owned by the company for $1.6 million.
“It’s where the majority of the water infrastructure is. There is two reservoirs up there, the Cox reservoir, the Vondell reservoir, the storage tank,” Powell said.
The second article up for a vote is even more costly– infrastructure upgrades to the tune of $6.7 million. They include burying a new pipe from the tank to the west end of town, drilling a new well to the east and suspending the pipe under the Elm Street Bridge which currently runs down the sidewalk.
“I mean no water, no town, right,” Sam DiNatale said.
DiNatale has owned a cafe on Main Street for the past decade. She was forced to close last summer because of a break in the line.
“Even though there wasn’t any flood damage in town, the fact that there was no running water for anyone, nothing could be functioning or open,” Di Natale said.
But the water upgrades up for vote are also about her employees if the moratorium on connections can be lifted.
“We can’t build additional housing for our staff who are all commuting at least a half hour to get here,” she said.
“We are also looking to grow our economy in a meaningful way and it is really hard for businesses to decide to be in a location that doesn’t have direct connection to water,” Powell said.
The Australian ballot vote will take place at the town hall on Dec. 10. Absentee ballots are currently available.