Southwick seeks
sewer solution
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY
Staff writer
SOUTHWICK – Southwick Select Board met with Tighe and Bond this week to discuss completing the town’s sewer project.
In order to complete the project, the town must install a parallel interceptor pipe from the town line into Westfield, under Route 20 and the river, to the wastewater treatment plant. Completion of the entire project to hook up the remainder of town to the system has an estimated cost of $19 million. The interceptor pipe, with a price tag of $2 million, is the next step in bringing the rest of Southwick online.
Ron Michalski of Tighe and Bond said he had good news for the town.
“I was told by Julie at Rural Development that they were going to give you a $517,000 grant and give a $1.5 million loan to construct the parallel sewer pipe,” said Michalski.
The town previously applied to Rural Development for full funding of $19 million. Michalski said when it came time to discuss the project, Rural Development was out of money.
“They said they could fund a smaller phase, then said they could not fund the Westfield connection,” said Michalski. “A few months ago they said maybe they had some money available, and last week I was told they were planning on offering some funds.”
In the meantime, said Michalski, the town explored other options to connect to Westfield and six weeks ago Southwick was advised the funds could be obtained through a two-percent loan from the state.
“But in order to do that, Southwick needs to spend a little money,” said Michalski.
He said the town would need to spend about $2,500. However, the approval process for the low-interest loan is labor intensive. Michalski said if Rural Development is able to offer a three percent loan, it is worth taking.
“There are so many additional steps to get the loan from the state that it’s not worth it,” Michalski said.
The board discussed that approval was needed from the town in order to take the loan. Michalski said while Rural Development would want a speedy process, there would be no need for a special meeting.
“This could be done at the spring town meeting,” he said. “If you authorize construction funds at the town meeting, you could bid in the fall.”
Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said he believes the project would pass, as long as there was a commitment letter from Rural Development.
The current pipe that connects to another pipe at the Westfield line is not adequate. The town has a 21-inch pipe flowing into a 12-inch pipe. The parallel pipe would connect directly to the treatment plant instead of flowing into another connector pipe.
“It’s a little crowded,” Michalski said of the current system, adding that “Mark Cressotti (Westfield city engineer) is in favor of getting this pipe.”
Hope Tremblay can be reached at [email protected]
