Wastewater treatment plant work, new roof on village list

The Grafton Public Works Board reviewed a first draft of the five-year capital improvement plan for the village’s utilities and public works departments.

The plan, which still need to come before the Finance Committee and aren’t binding on the village, include a major project at the wastewater treatment plant and a roof replacement at the Department of Public Work’s garage next year.

Under the plan, about eight miles of roads would be reconstructed during the next five years — an average of one and half miles a year, according to staff comments. With more than 62 miles of roads, it would take the village about 41 years to complete every road.

Staff comments state that to keep up with maintaining new roads, preventative work needs to begin soon after construction to ensure long lives for roads, so further increases to the maintenance budget are recommended.

The wastewater utility is expecting a $2.4 million project next year to upgrade its sludge plant, with a more significant biosolids project with a price tag of $6.5 million planned for 2029.

The water utility has less-expensive projects planned, such as the construction of a northwest high pressure zone booster station for $950,000 in 2028 and a second westside water tower for $2.3 million in 2029.

Water and sewer line replacements are the most costly projects by far, totaling an estimated $22 million over the next five years.

Projects in the DPW plan include:

ν An increase in the sidewalk replacement and trip hazard removal budget from $75,000 next year to $83,000 by 2030 with  the goal of being able to complete one neighborhood each year.

ν The purchase of a new dump truck for $300,000 to add another snow route.

ν The excavator that is shared by the DPW and the utilities will be replaced next year.

ν The purchase of vehicles for the custodian and public works director. The DPW has three vehicles, used by the parks and recreation director, assistant village engineer and engineering technician.