In his regular report to the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission on Tuesday afternoon, Tata & Howard engineer Jon Gregory was disappointed to announce that the State Revolving Fund did not approve the MRV’s filter replacement project, ranking it significantly lower in its points scale (413-331) below the last project funded.
“Not much we can do about it at this point,” said Gregory, who intends to follow up for a clearer picture of why the project did not make the cut.
The SRF program provides low-cost financing to assist the suppliers of public water comply with federal and state drinking water requirements.
The next move for the MRV is to investigate funding mechanisms, and that will necessarily mean dialogue as towns finalize annual budgets and articles for their respective town meeting warrants.
MRV Facilities Manager Henri Renauld suggested separating into two projects rather than trying to push them through together. Gregory believes the merits of that approach depend on whether the state Department of Environmental Protection requires PILOT testing.
Total project estimates range up to $7,400,000, according to Renauld. Gregory had a slightly more conservative estimate between $6,800,000 and $7,000,000. “The wild card in this thing is the cost of materials right now,” said Gregory.
Koch, the manufacturer of both the existing filters and the Puron system to which the MRV voted last year to upgrade, has issued a notice of cost increase of $370,000 from its original proposal.
Renauld said that the MRV will have to fund 31 to 32 percent of the project, borrowing somewhere around $2,000,000.
Marion representative Nathaniel Munafo asked about the procedure of funding, noting that his deadline for warrant articles was seven days away. Jeff Furtado indicated that the MRV would seek to borrow but that member towns would need to have funding in place to support the commission’s action.
Paul Howard of Tata & Howard said that In order for the MRV to get its bond in place, towns would have to make some sort of commitment.
Renauld was compelled to take the member towns’ temperatures: “Are we not ready to bring this to Town Meeting in May? Every one of us has to go forward with this.” With $600,000 to offset the project, Renauld estimates that the borrowing figure will drop down to $1,800,000.
Gregory considered the situation precarious only because of volatile construction costs. “We’re trying to fund something where construction isn’t likely to start for a year,” he said.
Munafo sought clarification as to the funding including construction and all administration. Gregory qualified “with an engineering contingency.”
Hoping that the project can be earmarked for ARPA funding, Howard recommended working off a $7,200,000 figure, “whatever your percentage may be.”
In response to Munafo’s concern over an insurance cost that was brought for decision in June, Commission Chairman Vinnie Furtado said the review and approval of proposals and agreements is “something we’ll iron out in the next meeting or two. We typically do our best not to have the element of surprise.”
Renauld’s treatment plant update addressed weather-related challenges including the winter’s snowstorm, along with high winds and power losses. He said that a new dual chlorine monitor will be in place over the next couple of weeks.
In her Treasurer’s Report to the commission, Wendy Graves itemized $65,713.31 in invoices paid in March.
Member emeritus David Pierce reminded the commission that the regular Southeastern Massachusetts coast water meeting was put off and that the MRV had been discussing a social including former members.
Munafo spoke at greater length during the meeting of the MRV Water Protection Advisory Committee, following a committee vote to approve the MRV sending out invoices to district towns requesting $5,000 in funding.
“I think we should have something where we’re not just voting on large expenditures out of the blue,” said Munafo, acknowledging the immediacy of a level logger that goes out of service.
Renauld explained that getting the funding approved was necessary with town meetings coming up. “We all try to get everything to the agenda as soon as we can. … I do understand Nathaniel’s point very well … but there are going to be occasions,” he said.
Pierce said the MRV used to keep a spreadsheet of scheduled votes. Marion representative Meghan Davis said it would be beneficial to get agenda matters out to the members ahead of the meeting when possible.
Gregory presented a river-monitoring data review from 2021, displaying via graphs how the drought of 2020 and heavy rainfall in 2021 affecting both deep and shallow monitoring wells.
Member Rick Charon said that the DEP uses stream flow to determine the draw on water and wondering openly if it could be more of an effect than a cause. The concern is in how to offer the state rebuttal to decisions made on misleading data.
Gregory said he will further research the stream flow. Howard said that Tata & Howard is trying to push for more alternative measures by the state such as groundwater rather than stream flow.
In his Treasurer’s Report to the committee, Jeff Furtado announced a total balance of $278,798.65 as of March 1. He reported $22,371.71 in total debt and $73,622.07 in total income.
The next meeting of the MRV Water District Commission/Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, at 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm.
MRV Water District Commission/Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee
By Mick Colageo