The town’s money request is part of a partnership with Kanzaki Specialty Papers that officials say would allow Ware to apply for a state grant to pay for the bulk of the improvements – up to $3 million – with the company contributing $1 million.
WARE – Selectmen will convene two public forums in an attempt to convince residents that Town Meeting should spend $1 million to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant.
The town’s money request is part of a partnership with Kanzaki Specialty Papers that officials say would allow Ware to apply for a state grant to pay for the bulk of the improvements – up to $3 million – with the company contributing $1 million.
Ware’s department of public works director, Thom Martens, estimates $5 million will be needed within five years to address the problems at the aging facility. He said the cost sharing idea would allow the town to upgrade the sewer system at 1/5 of the cost. Martens said new environmental regulations will require the sewer upgrades within five years.
The parties said state grants could pay 60 percent of the treatment plant improvements, about $3 million. The town and Kanzaki would pay the rest. With 227 employees, Kanzaki is the largest employer in Ware.
“The fact is, if we don’t get the grant and we don’t get Kanzaki’s assistance, the town will be paying for the entire bill,” Selectmen Chairman Greg Harder said in an interview.
Residents can comment on the proposal for the town to spend $1 million for the sewer plant upgrade during the Aug. 7 selectmen’s meeting. An agenda item will be dedicated to the issue, Harder said.
A public forum is also scheduled on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. in the selectmen’s meeting room at town hall, Town Manager Stuart Beckley said in an email Tuesday.
The Town Meeting is Aug. 21, 7 p.m. at the Ware middle school auditorium.
Approval of the $1 million is contingent on the town obtaining the state grants.
Kanzaki proposed paying $1 million because environmental officials said the company must pre-treat the sludge and heavy-metal wastewater they send to the Ware plant.
Although the company had agreed to construct a $2.5 million pre-treatment facility to solve the problem, Stephen P. Hefner Chief Executive Officer and President of Kanzaki Specialty Papers, Inc. told selectmen in June sharing the costs to upgrade the wastewater plant would fix the problem and enable the town to attract new industry.