The Marion Capital Improvements Planning Committee has much to digest after meeting recently with several town department heads to hear their capital requests for Fiscal Year 2024, along with 10-year needs-based projections.
Most recently, the Department of Public Works went before the CIPC on December 8 and the Facilities Department on December 15.
In order of Sewer Department priority, the DPW has requested over $1,000 over the next two fiscal years under Sewer regulatory compliance for the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF.)
Because Marion’s renewal application for its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was met with news that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering adding Marion to its Small General Permit, DPW considers it prudent to request funding to address potential unknowns in the amount of $150,000 for FY24 and $875,000 for FY25.
The DPW has also requested $100,000 for FY24 and $800,000 for FY25 to design higher priority repairs, focusing on concrete maintenance.
The I/I Removal Program will cost $200,000 per year for the next 10 years.
Other Sewer Department requests: $35,000 in FY24 and $35,000 in FY30 for work on the supervisory control and data program, $135,000 in FY24 to replace the sewer jetter machine; $50,000 in FY24 for evaluation of the Silvershell Pumping Station, $25,000 each of the next four fiscal years for the town’s older force-main evaluations and $50,000 in FY24 and $52,000 in FY28 for the Bio-Filter (odor control) system.
FY24 Sewer requests totaled $740,000, FY25 requests totaled $4,125,000, FY26 $2,680,000. Covered in FY24 by ARPA, Front Street station and force main will cost $1,750,000 in FY25.
The Water Department’s top priority is the state-required Lead Service Line Inventory at $75,000, due October 2024 and included as a capital request for FY24.
In addition to $287,000 for FY24 requests including (Priority 2) the Creek Road Water Main ($122,000), followed by (Priority 3) the replacement of a F350 4×4 truck with a plow ($90,000), main pipes dominate the Water Department’s 10-year plan: Wareham Street (Route 6) at $2,700,000 (FY25); Point and Delano at $2,900,000, Cottage Street at $350,000 and Pitcher Street at $370,000 (FY26); Point Road (south to Kittansett) at $140,000 (FY27); Point Road (south to Kittansett) at $2,300,000 and Point Road north (cleaning and lining) at $60,000 (FY28); Point Road north (cleaning and lining) at $1,500,000 (FY29); Stoney Run, Dexter Road, Cove Street, 2nd Street at $50,000 (FY30) and $800,000 (FY31); and Parallel Water Main Transfer (Delano, Ichabod, Rezendes, Fraser, Sippican and Point) at $25,000 (FY31) and $250,000 (FY32.)
The aforementioned truck comes up again in FY27 ($90,000) and FY30 ($100,000.) While requests are official for FY24, the amounts and precise timing over the 10-year plan are presented as placeholders and can change over time.
For FY24, the Highway Department requested a new CAT Skid Steer at $125,000, an asphalt hot-box reclaimer (pot-hole filler) at $25,000 and drainage infrastructure on Crossfront Road at $111,600 in FY24.
Along with the $261,600 requested for FY24, the Highway Department’s 10-year plan calls for Switch-and-Go trucks at the cost of $130,000 (FY25), $145,000 (FY27) and $155,000 (FY32.)
The Facilities Department’s requests for FY24 are relatively light: $197,000 for window restoration at Taber Library, $125,000 to install insulation at Fire Station No. 1 and $23,000 for window replacements at the Cushing Community Center.
Facilities’ 10-year plan is seeking $1,500,000 in FY25 and a $1,700,000 placeholder ($3,200,000 total) for complete Town House renovations.
Also sought for FY25: $175,000 toward the community center’s new roof, $40,000 to construct a restroom at Fire Station No. 1 and $20,000 for siding and trim at the library/museum.
For FY26, $20,000 has been requested for a condenser deck, siding on the east side and R22 to 410A refrigeration. An $80,000 request for FY 28 would address the community center’s need for a generator. A $500,000 request for FY31 would put a new roof and flashing on the main building at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and $30,000 for exterior paint on the library/museum. Fire Station No. 2 would use $80,000 (FY33) for siding, paint and trim, and a $100,000 placeholder was added for a family bathroom at the community center.
Once the CIPC members have had ample opportunity to digest each department’s requests, the membership will reconvene to discuss and possibly review certain requests with department heads. The lengthy process will ultimately produce recommendations for the consumption of the Finance Committee and the Select Board.
The next meeting of the Marion Capital Improvements Planning Committee has been scheduled for Thursday, January 5, at 7:00 pm.
Marion Capital Improvements Planning Committee
By Mick Colageo