WILTON – Two broken wheels at the sewer treatment plant will be replaced this fall at a cost of nearly $250,000.
Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Russ Mathers told officials Tuesday that replacement wheels are expected to arrive Sept. 2. The wheels take care of organic pollutants in the wastewater in the final phase of treatment.
In June officials authorized Mathers to repair one wheel and last month he found a second one broken.
There are four such wheels at the sewer treatment plant and ideally at least three should be working at all times.
Costs to replace both wheels are estimated at $99,210 for the unassembled equipment and another $150,000 to remove debris and install it. The labor is being done by sewer department personnel.
The money will come from a reserve account the sewer department has built up over the past 10 years. There is $237,000 in that fund.
Mathers said the department will work toward rebuilding that account and is also looking into grants. While the repairs will not cost the town anything, officials must authorize such major expenditures at the sewer treatment plant.
Mathers said the removal process has been completed, and it is expected to take no more than three weeks to replace the wheels once they are received. “We’ll be back in business by winter,” Mathers said.
In other business, officials agreed to put into storage six loon sculptures that were created for the town’s Bicentennial/Blueberry Festival Celebration this month. The town will store the sculptures for the winter to prevent damage to them and put them out in the spring.
Two of the loons will be placed across from the Wilton Post Office. Four others will be placed at the library, near Wiles Funeral Home, at Bass Park and at the town office.
Selectmen also agreed to put into an existing account $10,000 that was raised from an auction of the loons to be used for future Blueberry Festival celebrations. Smith said she will not have to ask the town for any money for the celebration next year. Usually she asks for about $4,000.
Selectmen also agreed to host a regional meeting at the town office for the Maine Municipal Association’s referendum campaign for property tax reform at MMA’s request. Nielsen said MMA chose Wilton because it is a central area in Franklin County.
Officials decided against distributing literature or hanging signs for the initiative but suggested that if there is a group of interested people they could do so. That initiative will be voted on in November.
Selectmen appointed Sandra Wyman to a committee to review the town’s zoning ordinance.
At their last meeting officials agreed to form the committee to look over the zoning ordinance in an attempt to improve the business climate in Wilton.
At that meeting officials met with residents, business owners and members of the Planning Board after they received a letter from a business owner who charged that the town was anti-business. The committee will meet for the first time at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25, at the town office.
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