Jeanie Forrester: Selectboard considers materials storage for Waukewan Dam Project

The July 13 Meredith Selectboard meeting included a wrap-up presentation of the 250th Anniversary Parade, a review of the Waukewan Dam Project storage agreement, an Island Public Safety Update, and Tax Interest Administrative Abatements.

Chris Kelly, representing the Meredith 250th Parade Committee, reported the parade celebrating the 250th birthday of our nation was a great success. Including marchers and floats, there were nearly 80 parade participants. All along Main Street, from LaValley Building Supply to Plymouth Street, was shoulder-to-shoulder with residents and visitors. Chris thanked town departments for their outstanding collaboration with the parade committee in helping make the parade safe, organized, and spectacular. He was pleased to note there were $8,000 in sponsorships and T-shirt sale revenues (not including the town’s appropriation of $15,000 for the celebration), with $9,200 expended thus far. The 250th celebration will be capped off with a celebratory burial of a time capsule at the September Old Home Day event. The committee will present their suggestions for contents reflective of Meredith, in 2026, and provide ideas where the capsule might be buried.

The selectboard received an update on the Waukewan Dam Project. The dam owner, Hampshire Hospitality Holdings, will need a location to store materials prior to work beginning this fall. The project is complex, the schedule has been accelerated by the Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau due to recent deterioration, much of the material needed must be delivered over an extended time and the project execution must be short once work begins.

Of special concern is pipe which, because of its large size, will be delivered in small loads with a 20-week lead time requiring a location for storage. The Department of Public Works requested the selectboard consider an agreement with HHH for a right of entry and storage for the old landfill at the Meredith Transfer Facility & Landfill. This agreement lays out details of best access and storage routes to ensure public safety, continued usage of the adjacent transfer station and has been reviewed by the DPW director and town attorney. The selectboard will take action on this agreement at an upcoming meeting.

The fire chief made a presentation relative to Meredith Fire Department services to the islands connected to Meredith by bridges. At a previous selectboard meeting comments were made suggesting fire-related services were not available to the islands. The fire chief wanted to reassure the public the Meredith Fire Department can and does provide services using the new Forestry 1 truck. It was designed not only for brush fire responses, but also able to access areas which the larger engines are incapable of traveling. Although some areas in Meredith have restrictions due to apparatus design and access, the MFD performs to the best of their ability with their equipment and with equipment available from mutual aid response.

The town manager presented two more administrative interest abatements for the selectboard to consider. The board previously approved seven interest abatements due to taxpayer confusion with software conversion issues. The fiscal impact of these two abatements would be $495.22. The board will take action at their next meeting.

The next meeting of the selectboard is at 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 27. 

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Jeanie Forrester serves on the Meredith Selectboard.