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Caribou utilities board votes to pursue redundant river crossing water line
Summary
The Caribou Utilities Board authorized staff to pursue a state Drinking Water Program offer to move the town’s redundant river crossing water-line project to the primary funding list; the project includes principal forgiveness and a 30-year financed payoff and is fully permitted, officials said.
The Caribou Utilities Board on June 11 voted to move forward with a proposed redundant water line across the Aroostook River, accepting an offer from the state Drinking Water Program that would place the project on the program’s primary funding list.
The move matters because the state package includes substantial principal forgiveness that the board’s presenter said effectively produces a 0% interest loan when combined with the program’s terms. The board’s motion to accept the Drinking Water Program offer passed by voice vote and staff were instructed to notify the program by the next day.
Board members heard details from staff showing an itemized schedule and estimated costs in the meeting packet; staff also clarified a spreadsheet error, noting the “cost at the end of 20 years” line should read 30 years and that the financing is structured on a 30‑year term. Manager (staff member) summarized the financing as principal forgiveness up front with the remainder structured so the net cost is equivalent to a 0% loan when the forgiveness is included.
During discussion trustees asked about permitting, construction timing and alignment. Manager said environmental reviews and geotechnical work were complete and that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting had been secured. Staff recommended accepting the offer now while additional grant programs could still be pursued.
Trustees discussed schedule and procurement: staff recommended issuing the construction bid package in late fall with construction the following summer to allow contractors time to secure materials and to avoid in‑river work windows. A staff estimate described the proposed new line’s route as “under a quarter mile” from the existing line and located on a less steep bank than the existing crossing, moving it away from an area where the bank is eroding into the river.
Trustees also raised the possibility of pursuing other grants — including Community Resilience Partnership funds and MBRC opportunities — as potential match or supplemental funding, but agreed that accepting the Drinking Water Program offer did not preclude seeking additional aid. Manager said acceptance of the program offer can proceed while the board and staff continue to look for other grant sources.
The board’s acceptance is a formal next step to secure the Drinking Water Program financing and move the project into procurement; staff said they would notify the program by the required deadline and return with procurement documents and a construction schedule for the board’s review.
