We need your vote at the Pascoag Utility District Special Meeting on July 22, 2019!
Based on our efforts over these past several years responding to customer desires for improvements in our water system to solve water quality issues, namely rusty water, Pascoag Utility District (PUD) embarked on an intense capital improvement program including the water main cleaning/lining project that was done in 2016 and 2017, which lined all of Pascoag Main Street and the central part of Pascoag village. Cleaning and cement lining is the best and most cost effective way to improve and extend the life of our water mains for the next 100 years, and we recently submitted and have been approved for a further federal grant/loan program that will extend this cleaning and lining project to almost all of South Main Street and the connections to our two water storage tanks. This program will allow our customers to enjoy a 43% grant (zero cost to customers) and a loan for the remainder financed over 40 years at a very low interest rate (currently 2.5%), through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA-RD).
The Phase 3 project will total approximately $2.1 million, with the grant provided by the federal government picking up over $900,000 of the cost. This project will provide a further substantial improvement to minimize rusty water issues over and above the improvements we have enjoyed from Phases 1 and 2. It also helps the operation of the system since valves and hydrants are replaced in all areas cleaned and lined.
Because the USDA grant/loan program is so cost effective, we will be able to improve a significant portion of our system for a minor impact on customer billings. The $2.1 million project cost, with a 43% federal grant reimbursement, will cost each customer less than $4 per month on average. We know every dollar is valuable to our customers, but are convinced that we need to complete this upgrade to our water mains, and this federal program is the most cost effective way to do it.
We ask for your support. If you are a Pascoag Utility District qualified voter, please come to the Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on July 22, and vote in favor of this project. We need your authorization to do this. Our goal is to make our water system as reliable and efficient as our electric system, and every cost-effective capital improvement project we implement gets us closer to that goal.
Sincerely,
Al Palmisciano, Chairman, Board of Utility Commissioners
Mike Kirkwood, General Manager
CANVASS MEETING NOTICE
The Board of Utility Commissioners will be in session on Wednesday, July 17th 2019 from 7AM-3:30PM in the office of the Pascoag Utility District, 253 Pascoag Main Street, Pascoag, RI, for the purpose of canvassing and correcting the voting list to be used at the Special Meeting of the Pascoag Utility District to be held on Monday, July 22, 2019.
Who qualifies to Vote?
A “qualified voter” is (1) any person whose name appears on an active account with the Pascoag Utility District; and (2) in addition, who either resides in the Village of Pascoag or who owns property in the Village of Pascoag.
All meetings of the Pascoag Utility District are subject to the Open Meeting Laws, which includes requirements for access by those with special needs. The Pascoag Utility District Business Office is accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting, who may have special needs for access or services, such as a sign language interpreter must contact the District office at 568-6222 one (1) week prior to the scheduled meeting.