Archive for category: Greensboro News

The Greensboro Association has sent a letter to the Greensboro Select Board supporting their efforts to come up with an equitable, community based solution which maintains local control of the Caspian Public Beach and importantly, does not change the use of the beach to all area residents. Copies of this letter, which was drafted in response to a request from the Select Board and to rapidly developing events regarding the Beach, were distributed at a meeting on Monday night in Greensboro. A letter has also been sent to the editor at the Hardwick Gazette stating our position.

The GA position has been developed by a subgroup of GA members chaired by Andy Dales.

Hardwick has owned the public beach for several decades, and Greensboro has viewed the property as not subject to state tax assessment since it is recreational and for the public good. For many years, both Hardwick and Greensboro, plus the GA, have contributed to the upkeep and maintenance of the beach, and to the important task of detecting incoming boats for Invasive Species like Milfoil. Last year, the State of Vermont found the property was not tax exempt, and forced Greensboro to assess Hardwick approximately $10,000 in property Tax. Hardwick is contesting this judgement in the courts, but is also understandably searching for other ways to mitigate the tax burden while keeping the property open and usable to all community residents. The Greensboro Association fully understands and sympathises with the Hardwick Select Boards tax situation, and has committed to working with the Greensboro Select Board and the Hardwick Select Board to develop a solution.

 

There is a meeting this Thursday, December 6 at Hardwick Town Hall 6:30PM on Dec. 6th to discuss a possible sale of the Caspian Lake Public Beach by the Town of Hardwick to the Vermont State Fish and Game Department.    The Vermont State Fish and Game department is interested in buying the “Beach” and Hardwick is interested in a potential sale given the recent decision of the State of Vermont to assess property taxes on the beach.

The beach has belonged to the Town of Hardwick for decades, and has been considered a tax exempt property by Greensboro.   Last year, the State of Vermont decided the property was subject to tax assessment and Greensboro presented a bill to Hardwick.   The payment of the tax has been subject to legal challenge and discussion since that change of status.  Selling to VT Fish and Game is one potential option to the Town of Hardwick.

There are multiple possible questions about a sale to VTF&G, including what price, whether the property will be exempt from state taxes, and to what extent the VTF&G could change the beach – including changing lake level, dredging the boat ramp to accommodate larger boats on the lake (with the potential for noise increases and more potential for invasive species), limits on eradicating geese on the beach, etc.  The Greensboro Association is following the discussions, and would appreciate opinions from anyone who attends the meeting as to the above points and any others.

If you are looking for holiday decorations, please consider AWARE’s Annual Poinsettia Sale.   Red, white, or Marble Poinsettas are available for $15.00 from The Flower Basket in Hardwick.   The proceeds will benefit AWARE in Hardwick.  Delivery dates are December 6th or December 13th, and orders can be placed from now to December 8.

Also, consider a wreath from Green Mountain Monastery in Greensboro.   They are providing beautifully fragrant balsam wreaths, decorated and sent for $25 plus shipping.   There are special discounts for orders of 50 or more, and the sisters are also willing to provide the wreaths at a discount for those who wish to decorate them and sell them on as a fundraiser.   Contact Sister Gail at Green Mountain Monastery ([email protected]) for further information and to place an order.

During the past few years, the water supply for the Greensboro Fire District #1 (the municipal water system supplying both year round and seasonal residents) has been under increasing pressure.  Many of the water lines are leaking badly, causing stress on both the supply of water and potentially to its quality.   Improvements to the 90 year old system were mandated by the State of Vermont in the last couple of years primarily to insure no quality problems.  An extensive project to replace the existing water lines throughout the system has been planned for this year.  (Fall 2012 and Spring 2013).

However, this Fall an additional problem was found.    The wells that supply the District have needed unforeseen repairs.  This problem has both delayed the start of the water line replacement project and has resulted in a temporary moratorium on new hookups to the Fire District #1 system.    One well with pump problems has been repaired.    The largest well, which has stopped producing adequate water to meet the District’s needs, needs to have relief in order to maintain its ability to produce.   The District is presently siting a location for an additional well that they hope to have online within the year.

The combination of the new well, the repairs to the existing wells, and the replacement project for the system piping will cut down on leakage by 30-40%, will give the current wells the ability to recharge, and will increase the water volume deliverable to end users.   It is expected that the temporary moratorium on water hookups will be lifted as well.

The replacement piping project will be completed in phases, with minimal disruption to water service.

Who pays?

The Fire District #1 system supplies over 200 users in both the full-time and seasonal community.   It is a municipal system that is completely separate from the Town of Greensboro.   In the fall of 2010, legal voters of the Fire District passed a US Department of Agriculture bond to finance some of the $2.95 million cost of the replacement project.  The actual project will be financed by a loan and a smaller grant from the USDA.    Paying back the loan for the work will result in almost doubling the yearly cost of water to users.   The cost of the new well will also be borne by users in the Water District.

Seasonal users will be subject to the same increase in costs as full time residents.   The cost of providing water is determined by the infrastructure not the actual use, so the cost of providing the first gallon of water to a property dictates the cost.   The municipal system provides clean and safe water to all of its users.

The Proposed Greensboro Fire Station Project

A new fire station, located at the Four Corners, is also being proposed for Greensboro.   If Town of Greensboro votes to use the municipal system, the Town will bear the cost of connecting that site to the Fire District #1 system (approximately $120,000.)  Further information on the total cost of the Fire Department project is available from the Town Hall and the Greensboro Fire Department.

Further information on the Water Pipe replacement project can be found here under Resources on the GA site.

 

The Highland Lodge has announced that it will be open for groups of 8-9 rooms this winter. The rate is 175.00/night/room for one night and 150.00/night/room for multiple nights. The rate includes morning coffee and use of the Lodge kitchen for meal preparations. Lodge x-c ski trails are being maintained and groomed by the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.  The Outdoor Center is accepting donations when you come to ski or online here.

The Lodge will also be open for the December 15^th and the February 2^nd Craftsbury race weekends. The rate will be 150.00/room for one, two or three people with morning coffee and kitchen use.

The Highland Lodge is for sale.  See details here.

Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District is accepting food-scrap drop offs at two locations every Tuesday and Saturday through April as part of its Residential Composting Pilot Project. Participants receive a collection kit and info; no experience necessary! Come by and talk to our Compost Monitor Tuesdays & Saturdays at All Metals Recycling in Hardwick from 8 am – noon, and at Highfields Center for Composting (outside the building between CAE and Brochu’s garage in Hardwick) Tuesdays & Saturdays 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Call 229-9383 x102 for more information, or www.cvswmd.org.