2018 October Newsletter

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Included in this newsletter

  1. Upcoming events.
  2. Featured Topic (Challenges)
  3. Breaking news and current events
  4. Water Bill Reminder
  5. Tax Bill Reminder
  6. Website updates
  7. How to contact the District of Eidelweiss District office and the Commissioners.
  8. Links to Commissioners and Committee Meeting minutes.

Upcoming events

  • Nov 13 1:00 pm Asset Management meeting at Eidelweiss Office.
  • Every Tue. 8:00 amCommissioners meeting at the Eidelweiss District Office.

Challenges for VDOE

The Village faces many challenges that will involve major projects and will be costly. This is the first of several memos covering challenges. This memo highlights information received and progress of work on the replacement tank for Reinach to be proposed on the 2019 Warrant.

Water System

  • The Reinach Tank bid document was completed and sent out to bidders on Oct 24, 2018. The bid document terms were prepared in the format meeting the State loan requirements. A meeting is scheduled with the bidders on November 6, 2018 to answer any questions and respond to any bidder suggestions for modification of conditions. The bid due date is November 20, 2018.
  • The State loan program filing is set for April 2019 with funding available in Late September or early October of 2019. This creates an issue of questionable ability to start and complete the Reinach project in 2019. The project may need to be performed in 2020.
  • A bank loan alternative is being investigated. Initial contact with bank indicates a willingness to match the State loan term of 20 years. The bank loan has the advantage of having the funds available in early 2019 and therefore permitting a 2019 project completion.
  • The State loan has an interest rate advantage of being about 1.8% lower than the banks. However, the State loan has conditions that could add to the cost of the project. The bid document asks the bidders to state to this added cost. We have created the option of going to the bank loan.
  • The cast in place concrete design has been determined to be less costly than replacing two and adding one new steel tank to get to 90,000-gallon capacity as required by State requirements.
  • There are many water projects that need to be addressed. Priorities are being evaluated. The Commissioners will make recommendations for warrant articles and for the consideration of projects that could be covered under the existing loan balance of $140,000.

Upcoming News Letter Focus Topic:

  • Topic: Continued challenges for VDOE

Breaking News and Current Events:

Roads

  • All equipment is ready for winter use.
  • Recently all culverts have been cleaned. About five culverts need additional work to completely remove all material. All culverts are operational.
  • Asphalt has been applied in areas that were in high need of repair.
  • Jungfrau culvert installations and road repair has been completed.
  • Due to January-April snow and ice conditions the budget is tight.
  • A new design for the Thusis project has been completed eliminating any need to become involved in drainage issues on private property.
  • The Commissioners are preparing warrant articles including a warrant article for a new truck to replace the Ford 550.

The 2019 Annual Meeting has been set for February 23, 2019.  The Public Hearings on the budget will be held January 18 and January 25, 2019.

Rumors and corrections

There is a rumor that the District can save funds now by replacing one 30,000-gallon tank and not moving forward with the proposed 90,000-gallon replacement for the Reinach water storage.

The storage calculation done by the engineers which resulted in the 90,000-gallon storage tank replacement is a calculation required under NH DES regulations when a water system will be updating storage tanks.  This calculation is a storage capacity requirement that is calculated with the largest producing well for the system out of service.  In our case, that is the DPW well, which renders the rumored cost saving option mute.   Rick Skarinka of NH DES was very clear when he addressed the District stating that a storage capacity deficiency is considered a major deficiency by NH DES and the State could mandate the system to install proper storage.

Water Bill Reminder: 

This is a friendly reminder that the water bill was due on 5/1. Certified notice for shut off is being sent for all properties with an overdue bill.

Tax Bill Reminder:

Taxes were due in the town of Madison on July 5, 2018.  The second tax payment bills will be mailed early November.  Please be aware that all 2018 tax increases for the County, School, Town and District will be included with the second tax payment of the year.

Website updates

If you have photos of the district and would like to share them so that they may be included on the site, please send them to office@vdoe-nh.org.  We will review and select the best photos for use with the site.

How to contact the District office:

  • The VDOE has an official website and sends out emails with emergency notifications. Be sure to visit the website at www.vdoe-nh.org and enroll.
  • The VDOE has a “see something / say something” policy. Anyone who sees something suspicious or unusual should report it for the benefit of the VDOE community to the Madison Police at 603-367-8334 (non-emergency line).
  • Office hours and guidelines have been added to the website to make it more convenient to schedule appointments with the District administrator. Click Here for Office Hours.

The office can always be contacted via email with questions, concerns and suggestions. Messages will be forwarded from the office to the commissioners. The email address is office@vdoe-nh.org

Links to Commissioners and Committee Meeting minutes: