Dear Editor,
Now that the Emergency Services Building referendum is behind us, it is time to think about the next referendum on April 25 regarding a bond for water/sewer. The bond that is the subject of the referendum would pay for engineering studies necessary to make informed decisions on how to address our water and sewer infrastructure.
Rooseveltians have supported improvements to the water plant financed with a bond issued by the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT). The bond included a grant for 50% of the project costs. We only pay interest on 25% of the loan. Ratepayers have saved a lot of money while making the necessary improvements to Roosevelt’s water system.
While the plant was completely refurbished, some of the original piping and valves remain in place. These are aging and at least one critical valve, directly under the water tank, is leaking and held together with a strap. This must be addressed soon.
The sewer plant is another story. It has not been upgraded and needs an overhaul. Repairs are made as parts break Emergency repairs are more expensive than planned replacement. These repairs are funded by a capital maintenance bond, which is at market rate, not the favorable rates offered by NJEIT.
Our sewer pipes are underground, where they collect groundwater and storm water through cracked pipes with roots growing into them. This water has to be treated with the sewage, so it costs us more in power, chemicals, and supplies, and strains the sewage treatment system.
Determining the amount of water going to the sewage treatment plant is the basis for estimating the cost of fixing it. There are several options for dealing with the aging infrastructure:
Which brings us to the referendum on April 25. We need a study of the water inflow and infiltration to get the costs of any of the above choices. NJEIT has funding available for these kinds of studies, but they will only fund a bonded project. If we do not issue a bond to pay for the engineering studies, we cannot get the favorable NJEIT rates. We would also have to pay for the studies out of current funds rather than stretching the payments over time.
I hope you will support the bond and vote yes. Roosevelt’s future depends on clear-headed, informed choices that balance current and future needs.
Questions are welcome. Please come to Council meetings on April 12 and 24, 2017.
Now that the Emergency Services Building referendum is behind us, it is time to think about the next referendum on April 25 regarding a bond for water/sewer. The bond that is the subject of the referendum would pay for engineering studies necessary to make informed decisions on how to address our water and sewer infrastructure.
Rooseveltians have supported improvements to the water plant financed with a bond issued by the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT). The bond included a grant for 50% of the project costs. We only pay interest on 25% of the loan. Ratepayers have saved a lot of money while making the necessary improvements to Roosevelt’s water system.
While the plant was completely refurbished, some of the original piping and valves remain in place. These are aging and at least one critical valve, directly under the water tank, is leaking and held together with a strap. This must be addressed soon.
The sewer plant is another story. It has not been upgraded and needs an overhaul. Repairs are made as parts break Emergency repairs are more expensive than planned replacement. These repairs are funded by a capital maintenance bond, which is at market rate, not the favorable rates offered by NJEIT.
Our sewer pipes are underground, where they collect groundwater and storm water through cracked pipes with roots growing into them. This water has to be treated with the sewage, so it costs us more in power, chemicals, and supplies, and strains the sewage treatment system.
Determining the amount of water going to the sewage treatment plant is the basis for estimating the cost of fixing it. There are several options for dealing with the aging infrastructure:
- We can fix the sewage treatment plant.
- We can regionalize by installing a pump station and long pipes to take the sewage to another town’s sewage treatment plant.
- We could contract with another entity to run the water/sewer plants for us. They would charge us for their services and any needed repairs and upgrades.
- We could sell the water/sewer plants.
Which brings us to the referendum on April 25. We need a study of the water inflow and infiltration to get the costs of any of the above choices. NJEIT has funding available for these kinds of studies, but they will only fund a bonded project. If we do not issue a bond to pay for the engineering studies, we cannot get the favorable NJEIT rates. We would also have to pay for the studies out of current funds rather than stretching the payments over time.
I hope you will support the bond and vote yes. Roosevelt’s future depends on clear-headed, informed choices that balance current and future needs.
Questions are welcome. Please come to Council meetings on April 12 and 24, 2017.