The Winterport Water District (District) attempted to obtain public approval for increasing its borrowing capacity from $1.2 million to $3.5 million. The existing total debt of the water and wastewater systems is currently at this debt ceiling limit. Therefore, no improvements can be made to either system at this time. The District is required to bring requests to increase its debt to a referendum vote or go to the legislature to change the debt limit. The recent referendum vote that was held on June 12, 2018, resulted in a public vote of 275 (yes)/479 (no), thereby, not permitting the District to move forward with its very important Water Tank replacement project.
Because of the public's lack of support for this Charter amendment, the District is reducing its borrowing capacity request from $3.5 million to $2.5 million, which would just be sufficient to complete the tank project. The current borrowing limit was established in April 2006 and is not sufficient for the current level of borrowing necessary to complete this very important project. The District has received $488,000 in grant funding from the Drinking Water Program. The total project cost will be approximately $1,220,000, with the District's estimated portion being a loan for $732,000. The Drinking Water Program requires that the debt limit be inclusive of the total cost of the project.
The District's existing water storage tank is constructed of steel and is failing and leaking water. The cost of repairing the tank is near the cost of replacing the tank with a more reliable and lower maintenance concrete tank. The proposed new tank site is located adjacent to the Wagner L. Smith School and will help provide higher pressure and improved fire protection for the school, which now relies on a booster-pump system that has reliability issues. Over the years, there has been construction of homes in elevations that are close to that of the tank, causing several homes to rely on booster pumps for adequate pressure. The proposed tank floor would be about twenty feet higher than the existing tank and will also be fifteen feet taller, providing approximately 15 PSI of added pressure throughout the entire distribution system.
Further details will be provided during the public meeting, where we will also be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Published on: July 7, 2018.
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