On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the binding ballot Question 1 will decide the future of a possible new library for the town of Greenfield. Before you make your final decision I ask you to consider how the following issues weigh in your order of priorities. Two organizations, Standard and Poor and Moody provide us with our bond ratings, AA and A respectively. They both strongly advised that we must consider our needs regarding: a new library; anaerobic digester; fire station; and infrastructure i.e. water and sewer ( which has been mandated by a consent order from the Environmental Protection Agency). How we prioritize will determine how well we maintain these ratings
The spending we are allocating for these projects now and in the immediate future will all overlap to some degree. On Nov. 5 there is a binding ballot question that is asking citizens to vote either yes or no on recommending that the sum of $19,541,266 be appropriated for the construction of a new library. This encompasses a $9.38 million grant from the state, thereby leaving $10.16 million that the citizens of Greenfield will have to pay, assuming that all costs have been accurately anticipated. In case they haven’t, there is a 4 percent escalator clause that could represent as much as a $2 million increase in the overall cost of the library. This is a cost that will automatically be passed on to we the taxpayers with no discussion.
An anaerobic digester that will help reduce the amount of solid waste has already been voted on and approved by the Town Council. I have been told that this will cost approximately $4.1 million. The amount of $4.1 million will only cover solid waste from Greenfield residents. While waste removal continues to escalate exponentially, the digester will take at least two years to install.
The last part of the infrastructure upgrade involves sewer and water — drainage and piping. Currently, we are operating under a consent order from the Environmental Protection Agency; which allows us to operate, as is, until we evaluate our 70 miles of piping that will need substantial repairs. So far, we have invested a minimum $495,000 just to evaluate what work has to be done. A firm figure from the DPW was not available since the evaluation is still a work in progress. My point is that this work has to be done as soon as possible. Some readers here may be thinking that these two infrastructure projects don’t affect property taxes. That is right. We will however see a continued increase in our sewer and water rates. This year we have seen a 10 percent increase and the year before was 15 percent. A City Council member said that rates more than likely over time will either double or triple depending on final costs.
Last but certainly not least, the fire station will have to relocate at the same time groundbreaking would begin with the library. New library costs have been estimated to be somewhere between $10 million and most recently $8 million. No one seems to know for sure. City officials have projected a fire station cost to be somewhere between $9-10.5 million.that is located on town-owned “brownfield” property between Beacon and Riddell streets. This estimate is solely for the fire station and does not include a joint safety complex with the police department. A public safety complex may come in the future.
A conservative estimate of all these costs is approximately $35-40 million. In my opinion all of these projects are important for the future and well-being of Greenfield’s citizens. I do feel that safety and infrastructure is most important. Finally, I recommend the Friends of The Library utilize the money they have raised to date, which I believe is in the neighborhood of more than $600,000, to make the necessary upgrades that our mayor is concerned with.
I close with one last thought. Let’s all be careful what we wish for: we may get everything we ask for — all at once. Mark your calendar to vote Nov. 5.
Steven Ronhave is a Greenfield resident who submitted a successful petition to put the library vote on the Nov. 5 ballot.