Hopkinton Hopes Milford Sewer Deal Doesn't Go To Waste
Officials in Hopkinton and Milford are trying to revive a decade-old sewer deal that Hopkinton leaders said could boost to the town's efforts to attract business investments.
About 10 years ago Milford and Hopkinton negotiated a deal for Hopkinton to send wastewater to Milford for treatment, but the deal was not closed.
Now, officials with the two towns have reopened the discussion to send about 200,000 gallons of sewage from Hopkinton to Milford daily.
If a deal can be finalized, it would provide leverage for Hopkinton to attract new businesses to the South Street industrial zone in Hopkinton. Parts of the area currently use septic systems, limiting the size of expansion opportunities, said chairman of the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen Brian Herr.
But, there are some sticking points to striking the deal.
Milford officials are looking for $3.8 million to connect the sewer lines, which is the same price that was negotiated in 2000 when the deal was first discussed. That price, however, was based on a 500,000 gallon per day transfer. Herr said because the transfer amount has been reduced to about 200,000 gallons per day, Hopkinton officials were hoping to pay less.
Furthermore, Hopkinton officials were also looking to create a payment plan to pay Milford over time for the connection.
But Milford officials want to keep the price the same and are not interested in a payment plan.
John Mainini, director of wastewater operations in Milford, said the $3.8 million price incorporates improvements that have already been made or will need to be made if a connection is finalized.
Tthe town was unwilling to pursue a payment plan option because Mainini said he wants to be sure Hopkinton has the money to pay for the connection.
Herr said the town is waiting to hear about a MORE (Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion) Grant. The MORE program helps keep and create jobs in the state. That could cover about $2.5 million of the project, Herr said. A state spokesperson said no final decisions have been made about the grant yet.
Herr said without the state grant, connecting the sewer lines could be in jeopardy.
Having sewer lines in place could allow for larger property owners to locate in the South Street industrial zone.
For example, one of the area's tenants, Lonza Corp., which makes products and chemicals for pharmaceutical companies, has already remodeled its 64,000-square-foot facility at 99 South Street. That renovation could allow the company to increase its chemical productions by about 40 percent, according to Lonza New England Director of Engineering Bill Piombino.
But, without the sewer lines in place, Piombino said the company cannot fully utilize its new space.
Piombino said Lonza has agreed to contribute $100,000 to install new sewer lines to help the project move forward.
Elaine Lazarus, Hopkinton planning director, said the lack of sewer options has limited the town.
"We're really trying to think ahead and allow for a multitude of different investment opportunities for that area," she said.
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