by Bethany M. Dunbar
copyright the Chronicle September 13, 2013
Glover Selectmen voted at the end of an informational meeting on September 12 to go ahead with their plan to split anticipated debt for an addition to the town’s sewer system 50-50 between Parker Pond sewer users and all the town’s taxpayers, if a bond vote is approved Tuesday, September 17.
This decision was made after hearing the opinions expressed at the public meeting and taking into consideration input submitted by e-mail or other personal communications, selectmen said in an e-mail. The anticipated $1,540,000 debt is the local cost of a $2.8-million project to add sewer lines to about 100 camps around the shores of Parker Pond. The selectmen said taking on this debt is conditional on a positive vote on the sewer bond, on an acceptable financing offer from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, and on final approval of the sewer extension project.
The selectmen say they hope that the USDA will offer Glover a $2,800,000 package that includes a $1,260,000 grant and a $1,540,000 loan at 3% over 30 years. The selectmen said they would like to encourage Glover voters to vote on September 17, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and to approve the bond issue.
At the September 12 meeting, camp owners asked if the project would be mandatory, and the selectmen said all camp owners on the lake will be required to help pay the debt service. But camp owners with working septic systems who do not want to hook on when the project is being built would not have to pay for operating and maintenance costs. Everyone who hooks on when the project is being built will have their hook-up, including a grinder pump, included and paid for by the town. People who hook on later would have to pay that expense themselves, selectmen said.
Selectmen said property taxpayers could expect to pay about $30 more on $100,000 worth of property, while new sewer users can expect a bill of about $723 a year. Existing sewer users in Glover and West Glover villages might actually see their current sewer bills decrease due to the sewer costs being spread out over more people, selectmen said.
For a full story including results of the vote, please see the next edition of the Chronicle on September 18.
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