Route 140 force main repair in Belmont up for discussion Wednesday morning

BELMONT — The Belmont Selectboard will hold a special joint meeting with the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program advisory board regarding the Route 140 force main, and much-needed repairs to one section, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, at the Belmont Mill. The meeting will culminate in a decision by the Belmont selectboard on how to best proceed.

Town leaders say the situation could be dire, since the repair cost for the entire sewer line replacement comes in at $10 million. Ratepayers would be on the hook for that bond, and it’s just not something Town Administrator Alicia Jipson wants to pass off to them.

“The sewer system for the WRBP is run and managed by the state, the Department of Environmental Services, but towns pay for it 100%. It’s very complicated, and we don’t have much say,” Jipson said on Friday. “Our engineers determined, through testing, that there’s only a portion of the line that keeps breaking. The rest of the line looks perfectly fine, and could maybe last another 15 years.”

It’s for this reason town leaders want to repair only that portion of the line, instead of the entire length. While a bypass may be more expensive in the long run for the state, it would be better for Belmont taxpayers now.

The state is "not considering our voice or the ratepayers in keeping costs down. We agree it needs to be fixed,” she said. “We also agree that it doesn’t need to be all done in one fell swoop.”

Belmont controls 97.5% of the sewer line, and the rest is owned by nearby Northfield.

The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting includes a review of the proposed project followed by a discussion on the risks, considerations and analysis of said project, and why it’s needed. Engineering representatives for both parties will also provide a review for those in attendance, including a focus on repairs versus a total replacement.

Big ticket discussion items include the proposed timeline and cost of the repair project, along with defining next steps. A discussion about funding sources and options will follow before Belmont officials make a decision.

The lack of say by member communities about how these projects and repairs unfold has been a contentious topic for months.

Member communities of the WRBP — which include Bay District, Belmont, Franklin, Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Northfield, Sanbornton and Tilton — met with leaders from the state Department of Environmental Services on Jan. 22, to address concerns regarding the state’s ability to execute a capital improvements program that is “financially sustainable for the member communities.”

The situation in Belmont is not solely isolated, but the need for a more regional approach is crucial, Jipson said.

Belmont’s options should include being able to say, “‘Hey, we should have more say, since we’re the ones paying for it,’” she said.

The selectboard will hold their regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, also at the Belmont Mill. To view the agenda or find meeting information, visit belmontnh.gov.

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Gabriel Perry contributed to this article. Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.