(Please refer to this document for the Board’s original plan).
The town discovered that both the Woodlands (Woods Run, River Rd) and Roberts Farm (Heritage Dr, Moses Carr Rd) had inadequate base structures: mostly sand, rather than gravel. This caused the Board to rethink its plan of overlaying a large section of both developments. The Board instead chose to fully reclaim both developments and add sufficient gravel to provide a base that will ensure the best longevity for the eventual top-coating. Here is the result of this year’s work and our expectations for 2019:
Woodlands: the development was completely reclaimed, sufficient gravel was added to bring it to current standards and a binder asphalt coat was applied. We expect to topcoat the entire development in 2019.. Shoulder work will be completed by the Highway Department this July.
Roberts Farm: we reclaimed the planned section with the addition of sufficient gravel to bring it to current standards and applied a binder coat. Shoulder work will be completed by the Highway Department in July. In addition, as planned, we dug out the “roller coaster” at the beginning of Heritage Drive. The Pike construction crew found and removed old construction debris under this section of Heritage, causng the heaving and settling that has been occurring in this part of the road. The crew went down about six feet, removed several loads of debris and refilled the hole with good gravel and construction fabric to try to mitigate the heaving problem. We are hoping that this will slow or stop the reacurring problem. Because of the substandard base of the entire development, we will now plan to complete a full reclamation of the remainder of Heritage and Moses Carr, add a gravel base to bring it to current standards and apply a binder coat. We expect to be able to do this in 2019 but we are unclear whether the final topcoat will be done in 2019 or delayed to 2020.
The maintenance of driveway culverts is the responsibility of the homeowner but the town has an interest in seeing that they are installed and maintained such that they provide for sufficient drainage and are built to current standards. The Board is working with Road Agent Guilmette on a plan to provide homeowners with culverts at cost and have the installation completed by the Highway Department. Stay tuned.
Remaining Projects for 2018
The Board is working with Road Agent Guilmette on additional minor road repairs for this year to include work on Oak Street in coordination with the City of Dover. Please stay tuned.
South Street will be closed at the intersection of Foundry Street. Foundry Street will be one-way from Main Street toward the American Legion. Traffic from Silver Street will be detoured to Locust Street from Wednesday, May 3rd through Friday, May 5th. 7am-6pm
Here is the status of the large projects that the Board is currently busy with. We are writing this on April 21. (If you are reading this in the newsletter distributed with the tax bill, please know that further progress will have been made on all of these projects).
Culverts and Storm Drain ($435,000 authorization with $385,000 bond authorization and $50,000 from the culvert reserve fund)
Project: Hoyle Tanner and Associates are the project engineers; they are working on the bid package that will be published soon. We expect to award the contract sometime in May and have the work begin in June. We are procuring easement rights from the affected property owners and thank them for their cooperation. We expect to complete the project by the end of October.
Financing: the town has been approved for a 30-year loan from the USDA for upto $380,000 at 2.75% interest. The loan amount will be determined at closing based upon actual project costs.
Transfer Station Improvements ($190,000 bond authorization)
Project: the town has awarded the paving and retaining wall contract to Pike Industries for $139,685. The town has contracted with Atlantic Recycling for the purchase and installation of a new compactor and compactor canister for $30,195. The remainder of the budget will be used to fund concrete pads and the town is in the process of soliciting quotes.
Financing: the town has been approved for financing ($190,000) from the NH Municipal Bond Bank. The interest rate and term have not yet been set but we should know by the end of May.
Purchase of New Fire Engine ($450,000 bond authorization)
Project: the Select Board signed a contract with Toyne Inc of Breda, Iowa for $449,280.73, payable upon delivery of the fire engine scheduled for December-January.
DERA Grant: on April 19, the Governor and Council approved the town’s grant application through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). The award amount is $109,336.
Financing: the town has been approved for financing from the NH Municipal Bond Bank ($450,000). The interest rate and term have not yet been set but we should know by the end of May. The Board has also applied to USDA Rural Development/Community Facilities; if approved the Board will consider which has the better terms. With either loan, we will not need to borrow the full authorized amount because of the DERA grant. The loan amount from either NHMBB or the USDA will be $339,944.73
Town Hall Drain ($55,000 authorized via warrant article)
CivilWorks New England is the project engineer and they guided the RFP process in February. On April 10, the Select Board awarded the contract to Gagnon Construction (Rollinsford, NH) for $38,228. Construction not yet scheduled.
The town contracted with NP Giroux Excavating (Rollinsford NH) to do interior repair work in the RPD and it has been completed for $2,250.
Road Work ($225,000 authorized via warrant article, $75,000 in operating budget)
The town contracted with Pike Construction for the road work on Pinch Hill Rd and Foundry St (with under-drain installed at the corner of Foundry and South). The amount of the contract is $292,293 and the work is scheduled to start before the end of April.
RPD Space Needs
The Board conducted a workshop on April 8 and has appointed a space needs committee that will report to the Board on June 12 with a preliminary recommendation. The Board will schedule a public hearing shortly thereafter to solicit citizen input. The committee members are: Chief Ducharme, Lt. Uraskevich, Michael Rollo (ex officio, Board), Bill Irving, Denise Knowles, Kim St. Hilaire, Charlie Putnam, Howard Hammond.
Pike Industries will be starting road work on behalf of the town as early as next week and will continue until approximately the middle of May.
Work is to take place on Foundry Street and Pinch Hill Road. Those roads as well as South Street at the corner of Foundry Street will be closed as needed during construction. Access will be maintained for residents to their homes. All other traffic will be directed to seek an alternate route. We appreciate your patience as we make improvements in town.
Questions can be directed to the Town Office 742-2510
Paving will take place on Thursday and Friday on Rollins Road, Main Street and Front Street. Expect delays and seek an alternate route.
There will be a parking ban in effect 10/11 and 10/12 from 7am to 5pm in the downtown area for roadwork. This includes Front Street, South Street, Cross Street, Second Street, Third Street and Fourth Street.
NHDOT has notified the town of two upcoming projects:
Continental Paving, Inc. will be working on Rollins Road/ Silver Street for 1.8 miles beginning at Goodwin Road easterly to the intersection of Main Street. The work will begin on 9/28 and continue until completion.
Continental Paving, Inc. will be working on Main Street/Front Street for 1.0 miles starting at the intersection of Silver Street, easterly to the State Line. The work will begin on 9/28 and continue until completion.
Click here to view to official notice and for additional information.