Rutland-area fire district says water hookup to West Rutland is imminent; state permit and pressure valve still pending

At the Town of Rutland Select Board meeting on June 17, 2025, Howard Burgess, representing Fire District No. 1, told the board the district is "finally closed, and we expect that it should be done" on the connection to West Rutland's water system, but a state construction permit, a right-of-way agreement and a pressure‑reducing valve remain to be completed.

The hookup will route water from a 12‑inch main provided by West Rutland into the district's system, which uses 8‑inch mains on Main Street. Burgess said West Rutland will provide water service and assume maintenance and customer billing; West Rutland bills customers twice a year compared with the fire district's quarter‑annual billing. He said a vault for the pressure control equipment will be installed between Otter Creek and Simons Avenue and that F.W. Webb is holding piping materials for the work.

Board members and Burgess emphasized the project has been years in the making and that the remaining items are procedural or permitting: the right‑of‑way language with the state highway department and the still‑pending state construction permit, which Burgess said the town has been waiting on for about a month and a half. Burgess gave a target timeframe of this fall for completion but did not cite a firm completion date.

The meeting also covered related operational issues raised by board members. Burgess said state regulators may require decommissioning of the district's well and storage tank once the hookup is live; he described the likely approach as filling the tank and well as regulators direct. Board members asked that the fire department take care when closing hydrants; Burgess said abrupt closure has led to water‑hammering and urged training so shutoffs are performed slowly to avoid pipe damage.

The board and Burgess discussed an unrelated propane tank incident: town highway mowing equipment struck a railroad propane tank once used to heat track switches. Burgess said the tank was removed by the railroad and that the town will compile bills for overtime and response costs and forward them to Bill Sweet, the town administrator, and the League of Cities and Towns (the municipality's insurer). Burgess did not assign final responsibility; the town will submit incurred costs to the insurer for review.

No formal vote was required on the update. Select Board members thanked Burgess for the briefing and noted they will await the permit and completion of remaining installations.