November 27th, 2024

Special Town Meeting 12.03.2024

Town of Wiscasset to Hold Special Town Meeting for Critical Wastewater Treatment Plant Funding

WISCASSET, ME — The Town of Wiscasset has reached an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to relocate its wastewater treatment plant. In the November 5, 2024, election, voters approved moving the plant to the town's public works site on Hodge Street. This decision opens new avenues for external funding opportunities to proceed with engineering designs and financing for construction.

While the Town is committed to maximizing external funding opportunities, it is unlikely the entire project will be covered by grants alone. As such, the Town will need to contribute its own funds. This may involve resources such as capital reserves, the undesignated fund balance, loans, bonds, or a combination of these sources. As the project moves forward and we continue to secure funds, we will gain a clearer understanding of our financial obligations and the best way to structure the overall financing. In the meantime, we will need to make some appropriations to secure the required funds.

In May, the Maine Department of Transportation announced funding opportunities through the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund, designed to help municipalities adapt critical infrastructure to mitigate climate change risks. The fund offers up to $4 million in grants for construction-related expenses, and Wiscasset’s wastewater treatment plant relocation project met the criteria for eligibility. With assistance from Olver Associates, the Town submitted an application for Phase I of the project, which includes preliminary and final design, construction initiation, and construction oversight. The total cost of Phase I is estimated at $7,075,000.

Thanks to the strength of its proposal, Wiscasset was awarded the maximum grant amount of $4 million, making it one of only two towns to receive this significant level of funding. These grant funds will be combined with $5 million in congressionally directed spending from the FY 2024 federal appropriation.

As part of the grant’s conditions, the Town must appropriate 5% of the total Phase I project cost, which amounts to $353,750. These funds have not been previously allocated, and voter approval is required to appropriate them. Due to the timing of the grant award, it was not possible to include this item on the November ballot. Additionally, waiting until the annual June town meeting would jeopardize the grant funding.

To meet the grant requirements and secure this essential funding, the Select Board is calling a Special Town Meeting on December 3, 2024, at 6:00 PM at the Community Center to request voter approval for the appropriation of $353,750 from the Town’s undesignated fund balance. 

The Importance of Relocating Wiscasset’s Wastewater Treatment Plant

Relocating the wastewater treatment plant is essential to Wiscasset’s long-term infrastructure resilience and environmental sustainability. The increasing threat of flooding to the current wastewater plant has underscored the urgency of this project. This risk became alarmingly clear during two severe storms in January 2024, when emergency measures were necessary to prevent catastrophic flooding of the plant. Without these interventions, seawater could have flooded the aeration tanks, resulting in thousands of gallons of untreated sewage being discharged into the Sheepscot River—a disaster for both public health and the environment. The new plant, planned to replace the current public works garage, will feature state-of-the-art technology and be thoughtfully designed to harmonize with its surroundings. Modern design techniques can significantly reduce its visual and physical impacts, ensuring it is far less obtrusive than the existing plant. This approach reflects a commitment to both technological advancement and aesthetic integration with the local environment.

By securing funding now, the Town can proceed without delay, leveraging substantial state and federal contributions to cover a significant portion of the project costs. This proactive step will not only mitigate current risks but also ensure Wiscasset’s infrastructure is prepared to withstand future challenges.

Community support is vital to ensuring the success of this project. By joining together to address this pressing need, Wiscasset can lead by example, demonstrating how proactive adaptation can safeguard critical infrastructure and protect natural resources.

Residents are encouraged to attend the special town meeting to learn more about this project and participate in this important decision. For additional information, please contact Dennis Simmons, Town Manager, email: manager@wiscasset.org.