The Cabot Selectboard voted June 16 to hire East Engineering for $130,000 to design the North Tributary Bridge Replacement Project, choosing the firm over a competing bid of $210,000 from SLR. Board members cited cost and the firm's familiarity with the town. Construction is expected to wait until 2028. A memorandum of understanding will be needed from four affected landowners, and the board recommended in-person meetings before work begins.
The fire department received approval to reserve a new tanker cab and chassis now, ahead of pending federal emissions requirements that could drive up costs. Doing so may save the town an estimated $30,000. The board approved the move on the condition that no money is due upfront. Separately, discussion continued on funding a replacement for the department's radios, weighing a regional loan at 5 percent interest against a Vermont Bond Bank loan available in February. The matter will be on the September agenda.
A beaver dam has rendered a dry hydrant intake on Westshore Road inoperable and caused water to back up, damaging nearby tennis courts. The board agreed to have the road foreman remove the dam and handle related culvert work. Beaver removal costs are covered through the dry hydrant budget, quoted at $50 per beaver up to $500. The board also discussed recording hydrant-related easements in land records and considering replacement of a cracked dry hydrant on Route 215 North, estimated at $15,000.
The board approved an amended Knox box ordinance to reflect modern options such as swipe cards, passcodes, and encrypted digital records, affecting about 14 properties with hardwired alarm systems. The board also heard a presentation from the Vermont Council on Rural Development on its Climate Economy Resilient Communities program, but took no action.
Originally reported by The North Star Monthly.
Photo: Cầu Đường Việt Nam via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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