ORLEANS A bright red crane stood out against a nearly cloudless blue spring sky, hoisting blocks of scaffolding from the site’s access road into a massive concrete foundation.
The scaffolding was part of a temporary support system for the pouring of the slab of the first floor of Orleans’ new $38.1 million wastewater treatment plant, which is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2022. For the past two years, Orleans streets also bustled with crews installing the pipes for the $21.4 million downtown sewer collection system.
This is a moment capping over two decades of contentious debate in Orleans, and one that Alan McClennen, a former longtime Orleans select board member, could scarcely have believed possible just a few years ago when the cost of the town’s wastewater cleanup plan seemed insurmountable.
Results of an outside investigation into a candidate for Board of Selectmen likely will not be ready in time for the Bourne election capecodtimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from capecodtimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Voters have a choice at the May 3 Town Meeting and May 8 Town Election. They can choose a healthy environment that supports economic vibrancy and draws residents and visitors to the townâs shores, rivers and bays. Or,they can choose the continued degradation of the townâs lifeblood, the very water that runs through it. The decision is that stark.
Mashpee has been working to deal with excess nitrogen from septic systems and the resulting algae blooms, fish kills and other undesirable consequences. Decisions before voters on the townâs Clean Water Plan could be a leap forward, without burdening taxpayers.
Committee members voted one in favor and six opposed, with one abstention.
Article 3 seeks $1,357,223 to be spent by the sewer commissioners for operation of the sewer department. That includes the use of $50,000 in sewer retained earnings to offset an increase to sewer usersâ rates.
The article also calls for $148,315 to be transferred to the general operating budget to offset Sewer Enterprise indirect expenses. All totaled, Article 3 seeks $1,505,538 for sewer-related issues in the coming year.
Before discussion on Article 3 was opened at the meeting, chairwoman Mary Jane Mastrangelo read a statement of her position, which reflected her ongoing efforts to mitigate against large rate increases for Buzzards Bay sewer users.
Doug Fraser (dfraser@capecodonline.com)
MASHPEE News that the town has received $40 million in low- and potentially zero-interest loans from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is cause for celebration, Mashpee Selectman Andrew Gottlieb said.
“It’s fantastic news,” Gottlieb said Tuesday afternoon after the state Department of Environmental Protection released its list of $622 million in loan financing for more than 50 projects addressing clean water improvements, from storm water to wastewater cleanup efforts. Another $2.3 million in grants was awarded to 16 projects for planning purposes.
Cape and Islands towns received nearly $118.7 million for eight projects.
DEP spokesman Ed Coletta said the federal Environmental Protection Agency passes the money down to the state to disburse as low-interest loans. That trust fund is also partially replenished each year as municipalities repay loans.