Milton council to set hearing date ahead of water referendum

Milton Town Council is moving toward a referendum on three separate water infrastructure projects. The first step will come at council’s regular meeting, 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 6, at Milton library.

Council is expected to pass a resolution setting a public hearing on the three projects for the council's December meeting. Following that public hearing, council will set a date for a referendum to borrow more than $6 million for the projects. That referendum is likely happen in January.

The largest project is a water tower on town-owned land next to the Rails to Trails on Federal Street. The town has already gotten preliminary approval from the state’s Water Infrastructure Advisory Council to borrow $3.8 million to build a 500,000-gallon elevated water tower to provide additional storage to meet daily demand and serve as a backup if the town’s other two towers are out of service for maintenance or repair. Town officials view the tower as a way to improve existing service and prepare for future development.

The town purchased four acres of land on Federal Street in 2019 with the intention of using it for future water infrastructure projects. The first of those projects, a new well, will be awarded at the Nov. 6 meeting, with additional plans for a new water treatment facility at the site. A water tower was also envisioned.

The second of the three projects is a $1.78 million water main replacement project that would replace 3,900 linear feet of existing mains underneath Carey, Walnut, Magnolia, Reed and Mill streets. The project would include replacing valves, abandoning the existing main and repaving the roadway. At Walnut and Mill streets, the town would upgrade to an 8-inch main, while at Carey Street, the upgrade would be from a 2-inch main to a 6-inch main.

Finally, the town would use a $579,000 loan for improvements to the Chandler Street water treatment facility. The project would include upgrading the plant’s electric system, generator, chemical feeds and testing equipment, and leveling the concrete floor. This project has been in the works for years; it was first discussed in 2019 with plans to do it in 2020, but the town held off until a similar water treatment plant was built at Shipbuilder’s Village, as town officials wanted to use the same specs on Chandler Street.

Terms of all three loans are for 20 years at a 2% interest rate, with interest-only payments during construction.