Milton water referendum set for Jan. 16

Milton voters will head to the polls starting at 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, at Goshen Hall to determine whether to approve the town borrowing $1.67 million for a series of water infrastructure improvement projects.

Town officials say the projects, which include replacing water mains on Atlantic Street, Atlantic Avenue and Chestnut Street, will address frequent leaks and breaks, improve flow, and remove lead contamination from the project area. 

The town has been approved for the loan by the state’s Water Infrastructure Advisory Council at 2 percent interest over a 20-year term. However, the loan will be 100 percent forgiven at the project’s completion, with the town making $16,700 in interest payments during the six-month construction period. Town officials say the funds for interest payments will come from the town’s transfer tax reserves, with no fee increases for town residents. 

If the referendum were to be approved, construction would start in May and last through September.

The project involves replacing a 4-inch water main on Atlantic Avenue with a 10-inch main, and replacing a section of 6-inch main on Chestnut Street between Front Street and Coulter Street with an 8-inch main. Finally, a section of main from Atlantic Street to Cave Neck Road will be upgraded from a 6-inch main to a 12-inch main. 

Polls will close at 6 p.m. Those who cannot make it to the polls can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them by filling out an affidavit by Friday, Jan. 8. After Jan. 8, absentee ballots can be requested in person at Milton Town Hall. All absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls on Jan. 16 to be counted.