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5:08 PM (1 hour ago)
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I wrote this for the chit chat there is some new updated info.
Hi, I’m Jeff Teter and I have been working for the Town of Mount Holly on our roads for the last 28yrs. I’d like to give you some information concerning the discussion of the proposed new town garage.
We had an informational meeting that started at the Town garage back in November. What was apparent when you walked in was how the heck do we pack all that equipment in there. The walk to the back of the garage where the office and wood stove are located involves turning sideways and ducking between equipment. One of our main winter tools, the loader, is kept outside because there is no room for it. So bottom line, we need a new garage because we out grew this one years ago plus its flat roof has allowed leakage and mold growth to a serious and unhealthy degree.
We started looking for land around 20 yrs ago back when Warren Cole was a selectman We have looked at several places on 103 and 155 but the best was always the school property. Not only because of it’s central location for school, town office, fire and rescue winter maintenance, which is key for a efficient cost effective operation, but we can build it completely out of site. Do you really want to drive into Mt Holly and see a big sand pile, maintenance building and stock piles of gravel right on the hi way instead of farm land. When we looked at the newer state and municipal garages for ideas, most were off the road and out of site.
Why would the school want to sell the town the land in the first place? The answer to that is our relationship between the school and town in the form of ongoing help on projects that the school could not have afforded on its own, examples being the athletic fields, basketball court ,moving around the wood chips for the playground each year and many more things that helps the school keep its budget lower but still gets extra fun things done. Beyond these areas, we are always close by to be there to take care any of their needs.
The school is willing to sell the town the land, which we have already been using for the last 35yrs and have developed for our needs, for 15k, which is the lowest appraised value, and a 35k solar electric system that the town will own and use in the summer and the school will use in the winter for electric and data for a teaching aid for the children to see real time value of renewable energy. This is a very progressive and forward thinking deal.
I should also comment on some of the information, and at times miss information that has been posted in the chit chat and spread around town.
The concern about sand pile deaths. The situations cited in the chit chat had nothing to do with municipal sand piles. One example given was actually a death where a path gave way near a river in a state park . Trying to add fear tactics to this discussion sure seems questionable and a waste of everyones time. Also, there will be a fence around the proposed site to make sure it is safe. This has always been a part of the proposal.
The land offered by Carol Ballou is not usable for our needs. It consists of wetlands and hillside. It is difficult to understand why this proposal was put out there.
We have looked at the Dunwoody property on 103 but ruled it out for many reasons ,the biggest being it is designated a class 2 wetland by the agency of natural resources so we would not be able to get a permit to build the town garage on this land. The class 2 wetland map of this area will be at the town meeting March 3rd at 7:00PM.
So, as tax payers of Mt Holly consider this proposal of buying the school land and building the town garage there, if you want the logical, least expensive and most efficient site, that even the neighbors are happy with, then it is clear that buying the school land for the town garage and keeping all of the money in town makes the most sense. Please, let us all use common sense in our decision making.
Just a small correction on Jeff's letter. No fencing was proposed by the Town during any part of the Planning Commission process nor was a fence mentioned during the final subdivision hearing or was marked on the map. Based upon previous assertions by the Selectboard, the plans for the grounds and lay out occurred before their submission to the Planning Commission. Therefore, the assertion "Also, there will be a fence around the proposed site to make sure it is safe. This has always been a part of the proposal." may have been the unspoken intent, but was not an expressed provision of the proposal. In fact, this is the first time I have heard this.
ReplyDeleteJeff, thank you so much for writing out your thoughts. Although I don't vote in Mount Holly, I pay tax in the town for a few feet of property. I have been saddened by the controversy surrounding the much needed town garage particularly because so much of the decision-making has been in the methodical, steady manner that we in Vermont understand and respect.
ReplyDeleteGiven the overlapping role of taxpayers in funding school and town, it makes good sense that the town would buy land from the school. Most family owned businesses would try to keep the money in the family. Few towns in similar circumstances would not have proceeded the same way.
There will always be disagreements--at the end of the day in our small VT towns, we live by the strengths of our relationships and our respect and regard for one another. We recognize that we need to let those we elect make the decisions for us as citizens. Yes, there may be errors in judgment or fact. Those wounds seem to heal much faster than those created by willful choice. I hope that your comments go a long way to create that healing.
Best,
Cecile Betit