Milton water referendum overwhelmingly passes

By overwhelming margins, Milton voters approved a referendum Jan. 27 that would allow the town to borrow $6.2 million for three water infrastructure projects.

Each project was considered individually on the ballot. The first of the three projects is a 500,000-gallon 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 the tower, which town officials say will provide additional storage to meet daily demand and serve as a backup if the town’s two other towers are out of service for maintenance or repair. The tower would be about 130 feet high and 56 feet in diameter, similar in height to the town’s two existing water towers. 

The referendum for the tower passed by a 513-92 margin.

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.

Borrowing for the water mains was approved by a count of 567-41.

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. 

The Chandler Street project was approved by a margin of 558-46. 

Terms of all three loans, which have been granted by the state Water Infrastructure Advisory Council, are for 20 years at a 2% interest rate, with interest-only payments during construction. 

In all, 575 voters turned out to the polls to vote in person at Milton fire hall, with 34 sending in absentee ballots. 

Town Manager Kristy Rogers thanked Milton residents and property owners for supporting the referendum.

“These projects are huge for the Town of Milton,” she said. “The three projects together will enhance our distribution system and provide a stable water system.”

Rogers said the next steps are for the town council to certify the results and then close on the loans, which are being provided through the state Water Infrastructure Advisory Council. Rogers said loan closing will likely happen in March. In the spring, the town will start preparing plans and go out to bid. She said the earliest a shovel will be in the ground is in the fall. The plan would be to do the Chandler Street project and the water mains first, with projects under construction simultaneously, and then do the water tower last.