Overview:
The Capital Program Committee in Athol has received requests totaling over $2.8 million, but only has $900,000 to distribute this fiscal year. The largest request comes from the Department of Planning and Development, which is asking for just under $550,000 to fund the town's 20% match for the first phase of the Rabbit Run Rail Trail. The Athol Fire Department has requested $500,000 for a new ambulance, and other requests include infrastructure improvements, new vehicles, and equipment for various departments. The Capital Program Committee will meet on February 4 to discuss the requests.
ATHOL – This fiscal year, the Capital Program Committee will have roughly $900,000 to distribute for projects, but requests have totaled more than $2.8 million.
The largest request comes from the Department of Planning and Development. In his application to the committee, Planning and Development Director Eric Smith is asking for just under $550,000 to fund the town’s 20% match for the first phase of the Rabbit Run Rail Trail. The total cost of this phase is estimated at $2.75 million.
The first of four phases of the project would, according to the application, “start on the town-owned Bidwell property and head south along the former Rabbit Run railroad bed onto property being donated” to the town by Athol resident Bill O’Brien.
Smith told the Athol Daily News he is working on an application for a MassTrails grant which would fund 80% of the project’s first phase – about $2.2 million of the total cost. An engineering design and permitting plan was put together by the Worcester firm of Howard Stein Hudson, also paid for with funds from a MassTrails grant.
Another half million dollar request, this from the Athol Fire Department, would be used to purchase a new ambulance. The new vehicle would replace an 11-year-old ambulance the department has been using as a spare “in the event of extended repair needs on one of our other ambulances, or as a third ambulance for increased call volume and demand from Athol and surrounding communities,” according to the application.
Fire Chief Jeff Parker said his department tries to replace the oldest of the ambulances about every eight years, “so this is already three years overdue.” He also noted that the turnaround time between ordering and receiving a new ambulance is about two years, meaning the older ambulance will be 13 years old when it is finally replaced. Holding onto older vehicles, he said, results in increased repair costs.
Other requests include just under $93,000 for mini-splits for the office and living quarters at the fire station; $91,500 to replace asphalt on the front, side, and rear of the fire station; $85,000 for a new cruiser for the fire chief; $50,000 for the police for professional records management; $93,000 for a new marked patrol cruiser with a mobile data terminal; $450,000 for infrastructure improvements for the water and sewer divisions; $150,000 for a new highway dump truck; $133,000 for a non-CDL required highway dump truck; $225,000 for non-Chapter 90 road work; $75,000 for cemetery roadway improvements; $75,000 for a new DPW pickup truck; $25,000 for the purchase of new/used equipment for the DPW; $50,000 for drainage repairs; $100,000 to repair the front entrance at Town Hall; $150,000 for grant match funds; and $24,000 for new voting equipment.
The Capital Program Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Feb. 4, to begin discussions on the requests related to public safety and general government. The meeting is at 6 p.m. in Liberty Hall at Town Hall, 584 Main St.