Town official outlines wastewater, village-core cleanup and water-testing plans for village core
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Summary
A Highgate-town representative told the Missisquoi Valley School District board the town is advancing a multi-phase wastewater system, brownfield abatement at the Village Core and water-well feasibility testing that could support senior-housing and village expansion; he said major construction is unlikely before 2027 and that the wastewater project has a $750,000 earmark.
Freddie Hayes, a town representative who has worked in Highgate since last summer, told the Missisquoi Valley School District board the town is planning several multi-year infrastructure projects that could affect school operations and nearby playgrounds.
Hayes said the town—xpects to install a low-pressure leach-field wastewater system sized roughly for 20,000 gallons per day. He described that as a multi-phase project in which line installation is not expected to begin until about 2027 and emphasized the need for regular communications with the district so construction does not disrupt school schedules.
Hayes also reviewed the Village Core redevelopment: state and EPA brownfield approvals remain in process, and the town expects abatement, demolition and removal of contaminated soil that could cause temporary traffic and access disruptions next to the school playground. "We will then be demolishing that building and the buildings on that property, which will be some more disruption to y'all," Hayes said.
On drinking water, Hayes said the town received a water feasibility study that examined whether the village could support a local public water system. He said the study reviewed the district well only to confirm it would not qualify as a permitted public water supply and that the town has an RFQ out to engineering firms for testing. Hayes said the Cassidy property emerged as a promising location for testing. "We really hope that that [testing] can provide, at least information to us on what is going on with that property," he said.
Hayes told the board that funding prospects for wastewater look encouraging: the town recently received a $750,000 congressional earmark that "basically made our wastewater project fully grant funded," and he called that uncommon. He cautioned that contamination at some village wells, while unfortunate for residents, can make projects eligible for additional funding.
Board members asked about project capacity and near-term impacts. Hayes said the feasibility study presented capacity alternatives and that the engineering work will refine cost and size estimates. He offered to share staff reports and the final feasibility study when available and asked the district to expect periodic updates as projects move from testing to construction.
The board expressed support for testing and requested copies of study materials be shared with district administrators and posted when finalized. Hayes said final reports and outreach materials will appear on the town website when ready.
