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Williamstown Selectboard proposes $1M bond to rebuild 13.84 miles of gravel roads
Summary
The Selectboard presented a $998,200 estimate to rehabilitate 13.84 miles of Class 3 roads, proposing a $1 million bond financed through the Vermont Bond Bank at 2.9% for 10 years; estimated tax impact is about $29.76 per $100,000 of assessed value.
The Williamstown Selectboard on Feb. 23 outlined a proposed road rehabilitation project covering seven priority roads totaling 13.84 miles and estimated at roughly $998,200 in materials and contractor-equipment costs. Chair Larry Hebert said the town currently spends about $30,000 annually during mud season filling in holes and argued bulk purchasing and a one-time project would save money over time.
Hebert presented the project's scope and materials estimate: 49,000 cubic yards of 1 1/4" crushed granite to cover roughly 14 miles at 24 feet wide and 9 inches thick, with a subtotal of $823,200 for material and additional line items (grader and roller rentals, trucking, chloride, culverts and labor) bringing the total to $998,200. "Town of Williamstown is currently spending about $30K annually during mud season filling in mud holes," Hebert said. The Selectboard identified seven priority roads: Flint Road, Martin Road, Baptist Street, Chelsea Road, South Hill, Tower Road and George Road.
The board identified the Vermont Bond Bank as the most favorable financing route, with a proposed loan at 2.9% for 10 years and an estimated interest cost of about $140,215. Using that structure, the Selectboard calculated an average tax impact of approximately $29.76 per $100,000 of assessed home value (roughly $74.40 on a $250,000 home). Hebert cautioned that bidding the project commercially could return a significantly higher estimate — he cited an estimate of about $2.5 million if the town were to bid the full project externally.
Board discussion centered on whether the seven roads were the right priorities and on long-term maintenance planning. The Selectboard said if the bond does not pass the town would continue spot fixes and reclaim available stone and pit materials, which they estimated could mean spending about $150,000 on the worst spots instead of the proposed comprehensive project. The Selectboard did not set a final vote at the meeting; the presentation was intended to inform voters ahead of a ballot decision.
