This article was published on December 30, 2008. The Academy has received a grant (awarded to the Town) that will cover a significant part of the cost for the sewer extension. I think there is a consensus in town that we need to get this done. We welcome any corrections in what we have said here.
According to the Water Pollution Control Authority, the Town Sewer begins at the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Department and heads south and east to Putnam’s Peake Brook pump station. I was always under the impression that residents on the Hill were hooked up to the sewer, but I guess not. If any Cafe visitor has other information, please let us know. The sewer is managed by the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA; semi-monthly minutes of this commission are posted at www.townofwoodstock.com ).
From the Sept 24th (2008) minutes: “Still no activity with the Inn at Woodstock Hill or the Woodstock Academy. Allan Walker did have a conversation with Richard Foye of the Woodstock Academy and the Academy has every intention of moving forward with the sewer extension to the school.”
From the Sept 9th (2008) minutes: The Woodstock sewer system which serves South Woodstock including Hyde School has Inflow & Outflow problems that impact the Town of Putnam’s Peake Brook pump station.
Questions that might be answered by the WPCA and/or the Academy:
- How will 1200-plus new users of the sewer system impact the Town of Woodstock and Putnam?
- How will the costs for this sewer construction be passed onto taxpayers?
- What will this cost the taxpayers compared to the current cost of sewage management by the Academy?
- Will Woodstock taxpayers bare any costs that the other sending towns will not have?
- Will this sewer extension promote further expansion of the Academy?
- Will Hill residents have to share the cost of this sewer line construction if they intend to use it?
- Who will pay the Institutional connection fee (approximately $353,000)?
Where is the current Woodstock Sewer Line located?
(Answers provided by the WPCA at the Town Hall website)
“The sewer line runs approximately 5 miles starting at the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Station on Route 169 near the Woodstock Town Hall and including parts of or all of the following roads: Ellen Lane, Wainwright Drive, Holmeslea Court, Davis Road, Route 169, Butts Road, Liljegren Road, Nelson Road, Lane Road and ending on Peake Brook Road” (see the map of the sewer district at the end of this article where the above listed roads are identified).
When was the Woodstock Sewer Line established?
“The sewer line was established in 1997 by the Water Pollution Control Authority.”
Can I, as a property owner, hook up to the sewer line?
“A property owner is only eligible if their property is within the Town of Woodstock’s Sanitary Sewer District.”
How do I apply for a New Sanitary Sewer Connection?
“If your property falls within the Sewer District, you can receive an application for a new sewer hook-up in the Building Department at the Town Hall.”
How much does it cost to connect to the sewer line?
“Classification - Industrial $400,000.00, Institutional $353,403.00, Commercial $10,398.00, Residential $7,900.00, Apartments $6,900.00″
What are the yearly sewer usage fees?
“There is a sewer usage fee to all residential homeowners and businessess on the sewer line. The yearly residential flat fee for sewer usage is $424.32 per unit and is billed in two installments of $212.16 every July and January. The July billing covers the time period of the previous January 1 through June 30 of the same year. The January billing covers the time period of the previous July 1 through December 31. Businesses are on a metered sewer usage basis. Readings are taken on the businesses monthly and reported to the Water Pollution Control Authority and billed yearly at a rate of $4.65 per 1000 gallons. These bills are mailed August 1st of each year and covers the previous 12 months water usage.”
I trust the maps below show how the Academy plans to hook up to the sewer (these maps came from the Academy website). However, the Legend (below) was confusing to an amateur like me, because the lines indicating the location of the proposed sewer route our not exactly the same in appearance as those placed in the Legend by CME. It appears that the Academy will connect to the current sewer system by laying a sewer pipe along the east edge of Route 169 on the Hill. These maps do not extend all the way to the Fire House.
August 2006 drawing by CME (disregard the blue arrows showing “connection” )
Sewer District
Les Egouts de Woodstock….maybe we can have a tour.
Yes and how much money has been spent on a plan that has been so many years in the making.Maybe they are waiting for the Athletic field to be included in the plan so we can pay for it in a lump sum. Woodstock Fair Grounds did that , didn’t they ?
The next meeting of the WPCA is Jan 20th at 7 pm in town hall. All meetings are open to the public.
The next WPCA meeting that will be held at the Town Hall in Woodstock will be January 27th at 7:00 p.m. in meeting room A. Not Jan 20th.
Yes, we need to get this done. It’s 20 years overdue — the need has been overlooked for a long time by many. …(see Nary’s new article. Admin).