Vermont Legislature Exempts Caspian Lake Public Beach from State Tax

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The Vermont State Legislature has passed a bill in the final days of its 2013 calendar which exempts the Caspian Lake Public Beach from state taxes.   This bill, which is a piece of legislation targeted at miscellaneous technical changes to the tax code, amended property tax law to include an exemption for parcels of land which “provide public access to public waters….and which are owned by the Town of Hardwick, and which are located in Greensboro Vermont.”

This bill appears to solve recent questions between Greensboro and Hardwick regarding taxation of the Public Beach.

In 2013, the State of Vermont ruled that the Public Beach, which has been owned by Hardwick sine 1927, be added to the Greensboro tax roll . The Town of Hardwick was assessed for the first time a tax of  over $10,000 on this 2.4 acre parcel, which includes 325 of shoreline. Both Hardwick and Greensboro residents have been unhappy with the state’s position, and have been seeking a number of ways to mitigate Hardwick’s tax bill while maintaining the current full and free use of the property for area residents.

Various possible solutions to the tax problem had been proposed, including sale of the property to a private owner; sale to the Vermont State Fish and Wildlife Department; sale or donation of the property to Greensboro with rights for Hardwick residents to use the beach in perpetuity; and a court case asking for a summary judgment saying that the property is not taxable under state law.

There is still a question of whether taxes are owed for the current year since the bill is effective January 1, 2014.

Thanks to Senators John Rodgers, Jane Kitchell, Robert Starr and Joe Benning, and Representative Kristina Michelsen for their help in this matter.

 

 

 

2013 Funky Fourth Celebrations on July 6

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Don’t miss Greensboro’s Independence Day festivities. Events include the Funky Fourth parade on July 6 beginning at 10:00 a.m., music and games in front of the town hall after the parade, the book sale at the Greensboro Free Library, the UCC chicken barbecue, (contact UCC for tickets, [email protected]) and the free Fireworks display at the Four Corners beginning at dusk.

Volunteers are needed to help set up the parade on the day and to man a Greensboro Association table at the Town Hall during the morning after the parade.  Would you be willing to lend an hour during this busy time?  Many hands make light work and allow everyone to spend time with their families while enjoying this terrific celebration. Volunteers are needed in the morning from 8:00 a.m. to help direct the parade vehicles on Country Club road, as well as after the parade.  Please sign up here if you have a bit of time to spend on the day, and we will work around your schedule.

2013 Spring Newsletter

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newsletter

Click here to read the 2013 Spring Newsletter! Lots of news and information about upcoming  events in Greensboro.  Thank you to Niall Kirkwood, our Newsletter Editor.

Water Pipe Replacement Project

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Water Pipe Replacement Project

Greensboro’s Fire District #1 (FD#1 water department) has been required by the state to replace most of its delivery pipes because of massive leaking in the system. That $3 million project is now underway.  Just to complicate matters FD#1 has also had to drill a new expensive well this winter.  We hope to have this new well #4 pumping by June, but still we may have to continue pumping emergency water from the lake through the summer.  The lake water is chlorinated before entering the system but still the state requires that we issue “Boil Water” notices when we introduce that Caspian water.  One year from now we expect the system to be providing good water very efficiently. Then for 40 years we water users pay back our federal USDA loan granted for this pipe replacement project.

 

For this first phase of the project Munson Earth Moving Corp won the bid over eleven other companies. They are starting by setting up temporary plastic piping through the village and mostly above ground. The next step will be to replace the line from the church, down to Willey’s, up Breezy Ave. and out to the new fire station site at the Four Corners; that part is expected to be finished by mid-June.

Water users are reminded that this is a great time to upgrade their own water pipes out to the main lines and to install a pressure reducing valve as well.  Thank you, all of Greensboro, for your patience; we will publish further updates over the next few months.

FD#1 Prudential Committee:
John Mackin, Craig Dezell, Nat Smith