Raymond Voter Information Project

Article 10

Mottolo Water Line Bond

Click HERE for direct link to the text of Town Warrant Article (revised at Town Deliberative Session Feb. 6, 2010).

This article would authorize the Town to raise and bond $2.5 million to build a water line to the neighborhood surrounding the contaminated Mottolo Superfund Site, a former Blueberry Hill Road pig farm where over 1,600 containers of chemical wastes were dumped. Despite extensive efforts over the years to clean up the site, in July 2009, five residential wells were found to have elevated levels of contaminants. (1) Affected residents currently receive bottled water and/or well water treatment systems from the state as an interim solution.

A YES vote would enable the town to build the water line and seek federal reimbursement.
A NO vote means that a clean water solution may be delayed for at least two years while the NH DES continues to test the site to confirm the source of the contamination and the migration of the contaminants.

Pro:

• The water line extension would eliminate concern about contamination in the residential well water supplies that may depress area property values and negatively impact Raymond's tax revenues.
• Funding a water line extension would bring a long-term clean water supply to the Blueberry Hill area.
• Businesses and residents along the new line could tie into town water.

Con:

• If federal reimbursement is not available, the water line extension could raise the property tax rate by as much as $0.20 per $1,000 of property value, the equivalent of $40 per year additional tax on a $200,000 home in 2011. The cost to taxpayers would get smaller every year as the bond is paid off.
• Residents who hook up to the new water main will have to hire a contractor and pay connection fees. The estimated cost to connect a home is $4,000.

Reference:
(1) http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/waste/hwrb/fss/superfund/index.htm

Please send questions/comments to editor@raymondvip.org

Return to Raymond VIP Town Warrant Information

Return to Issues