The Town of Wilton is seeking to upgrade its highway facilities based on environmental and health concerns.
On Monday, community members and the Select Board met at the town’s public works garage, located at 89 Whiting Hill Road, to discuss possible plans to improve the condition of the current facility or find a more-suitable location. Built in 1956, the current location houses highway trucks, salt and sand storage and other stormwater equipment for highway emergencies. However, the site is not up to Environmental Protection Agency code, according to a document from the Highway Facility Advisory Committee presented to board members.
During the site walkthrough, participants expressed growing environmental concerns about flood runoff interfering with the site’s uncovered salt piles, eventually flowing into the Souhegan River and potentially harming wildlife. In addition, Select Board Chairman Kermit Williams said the current site is not large enough to house trucks and equipment necessary to treat the roads during ice storms and floods. Williams also said the current facility has been causing problems to the town for years.
“It’s been a real struggle to find a new location near the town square that is at least 5 acres,” he said.
Additional deficiencies cited in the Highway Facility Advisory Committee document include the lack of a break room, no locker room for employees, poor to nonexistent ventilation, an electrical system that is not up to code, primary heat coming from a cast-iron wood furnace, lack of a fire alarm system, no intrusion alarms, no fire sprinkler system and no emergency lighting.
Due to the known defects of the facility, the Select Board is considering finding a new location for the public works garage. Board members have reviewed several nearby towns such as Brookline and Pelham to potentially mimic their newly renovated facilities. Highway Facility Advisory Committee Chairwoman Kellie-Sue Boissonnault said the town needs to prioritize the project.
“We all know that something that needs to be done and so it’s a very big concern of ours,” said Boissonnault. “We don’t want this to be put on the back burner. Before long, somebody is going to get hurt and there is going to be a lawsuit to the Town of Wilton.”
During the walkthrough, Williams said that the budget for a new facility would be approximately $2.7 million, based on Brookline’s public works site. He said it would be the largest investment the town has seen in recent years. The project would require three-fifths approval at Town Meeting.