Slight increase projected for Killington budget

By Josh O’Gorman

STAFF WRITER | January 11,2014

Rutland Herald

 

KILLINGTON — As it stands, the proposed town budget would add half a penny to the residential tax rate.

In December, the Select Board reviewed a draft budget of $4,055,447 for 2014. That proposal would have added nearly 9/10 of a cent to the current residential tax rate of 28.9 cents.

At that meeting, the board instructed Town Manager Seth Webb to make changes to the budget — either increase revenue, decrease expenses or some combination of the two — to reduce the increase in the residential tax rate.

Interestingly enough, the new draft of the budget — reviewed by the board during a regular meeting Tuesday night — sees an increase in expenses, but an even greater increase in revenue.

Unlike most municipalities, Killington operates on a calendar year rather than a fiscal year from July 1 through June 30. At Tuesday’s meeting, Webb shared final numbers for 2013, which showed, in some areas, higher-than-projected revenue numbers.

For example, the town collected $2.5 million in property taxes, which was more than the $2.3 million projected. The extra money came from collections on delinquent taxes. Also, the 1 percent option tax helped generate approximately $200,000 more in nonproperty tax revenue than projected.

Overall, the town collected 99 percent of projected revenue, even as it has yet to collect $413,000 in flood-recovery money from Tropical Storm Irene. The town will receive that money in 2014, and will use it to defray the increase in the residential tax rate.

On the other side of the books, final numbers from 2013 showed $109,019 remaining in the expense budget. That money will be applied to the proposed budget is another factor in reducing the increase in the residential tax rate.

The latest draft expense budget of $4,074,123 is an increase of $343,408, or 9 percent, compared to the current expense budget of $3,730,715. It’s also approximately $20,000 more than was proposed in the previous draft budget in December. The additional money has been added for capital improvements for roads and bridges.

So, to translate all of this for the homeowner looking for the bottom line, under the latest draft budget, a resident with a home valued at $300,000 would see an increase in property taxes of $15.

The board is expected to ratify the budget at its next meeting, set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Town Offices on River Road. For more on the 2014 budget, visit www.killingtontown.com.

josh.ogorman @rutlandherald.com

$2.6 million Ludlow bike path gets big push

By Kevin O’Connor
Staff Writer | January 08,2014

Rutland Herald

 

LUDLOW — When municipal leaders first proposed a 3.5-mile bike and pedestrian path for this ski town of 1,963 people, they figured its estimated $2.68 million price tag might prove too steep a fiscal incline. But a surprise push from a local fundraising group suddenly has them pedaling forward.

Engineers last month unveiled a plan for a paved trail to run along the state’s busy east-west Route 103 from the town’s park-and-ride lot — just north of the fire station in the central business district — then eventually moving to side roads that lead to the Jackson Gore and Buttermilk Falls mountain recreation areas.

The good news: If the town applied for and received a Vermont Agency of Transportation bicycle and pedestrian program grant, the state would pay 90 percent. The bad news: That still would require the community to pick up the remaining $268,500.

Enter Okemo Community Challenge, a local fundraising group that has offered to donate $40,000 annually in each of the next three years.

“We believe that the bike path is a great recreational amenity and health benefit for our residents and visitors,” Diane Mueller, a Challenge coordinator and Okemo Mountain Resort co-owner, has written the town Select Board. “We also believe it will have a positive impact on the local economy.”

So much so, “it is also our intent to donate more,” the group adds, “should we have dollars we can allocate towards this project.”

A $120,000 contribution would cut the local share to less than $150,000 — a figure the Select Board is considering raising by asking voters for $20,000 or $25,000 annually throughout the next several years.

“I was overwhelmed when I got the letter,” Municipal Manager Frank Heald told the board at its monthly meeting Monday night. “That certainly changes the dynamic of the money we might have to raise.”

A “scoping study report” just completed by Dufresne Group Consulting Engineers of Vermont shows the proposed route — at least 10-feet wide, protected by guardrails and mostly confined to current rights-of-way — could be completed without major problems.

But it would require time and money. According to a proposed schedule, the town would work the next year on funding, then at least three more on construction permitting and preparation before breaking ground in 2018.

Local leaders now must decide whether to apply for financial aid, commission a final design and ask contractors to bid on the project. The Select Board has voiced support for applying for a state grant but has yet to vote officially, as applications aren’t due until July.

The Challenge, for its part, will start raising money at its annual “Flannel with Flair” dinner and dance set for Jan. 25 at Okemo’s Jackson Gore Roundhouse.

kevin.oconnor@rutlandherald.com

 

Comment: Gee, I wonder why we can't get some Killington people and businesses that are clamoring for beautification, sidewalks and so on to pony up some cash like in Ludlow. In Killington it seems like the taxpayers are expected to pick up the tab.

Vito

Killington hires new police officer

By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | January 08,2014

Rutland Herald

 

KILLINGTON — The town has hired a new police officer to replace one who resigned in complaint.

Monday was the first day on the job for James Riehl, the newest addition to the Killington Police Department. Riehl, who was hired as a part-time officer, will assist and serve under Police Chief Whit Montgomery, who touted Riehl’s strengths Tuesday.

“I think he’s the right man for the job,” Montgomery said. “He’s got experience on the road and also in the classroom.”

In terms of the classroom, the 30-year-old Riehl is a 2005 graduate of Castleton State College, where he studied business. He is certified as a full-time police officer.

Riehl is also an instructor, teaching women’s self defense, motorcycle safety and nonlethal use of force.

Riehl is currently a corporal with the Fair Haven Police Department. He has also been a deputy with the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department, an officer with the St. Albans Police Department and an emergency dispatcher for Vermont State Police.

Riehl will work approximately 10 hours, which — with Montgomery — will result in approximately 40 hours of coverage a week by Killington police.

In addition to Killington, Riehl will continue to work for Fair Haven. His salary with Killington is $18.50 an hour.

Riehl replaces Robert Giolito, who was on the job for less than two months. He was hired Sept. 17 and resigned Nov. 14.

“It didn’t meet my professional standards,” Giolito said Tuesday, when asked to explain his short time with the police department. “The reason I left is, the town did not provide the tools I needed to do my job.”

Giolito pointed to an incident in which the brakes in his town-issued vehicle failed while he was engaged in a pursuit. Giolito didn’t crash, he said, but came to a slow stop and ended up arresting the motorist for driving with a suspended license and attempting to elude police.

In a written statement, Town Manager Seth Webb responded to Giolito’s complaint.

“We disagree with Mr. Giolito’s assessment,” Webb wrote. “He was issued proper equipment that meets current standards and passed required inspections.”

Looking to the future, Montgomery’s proposed police budget — part of the budget voters will see on Town Meeting Day in March — includes money to hire a second part-time officer.

josh.ogorman @rutlandherald.com

Killington cell tower promoter asks to table issue

By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | January 08,2014
Rutland Herald

KILLINGTON — The backer of a controversial cell tower has asked the town to postpone its deliberations on the proposed project.

In late November, Elizabeth Kohler, an attorney for AT&T Wireless, made a presentation to the Select Board as she sought a positive recommendation for a proposed 140-foot tower on a 2-acre parcel just off Brad Mead Drive.

The decision to grant AT&T a permit for the project rests with the state’s Public Service Board, which takes into account recommendations from town officials.

The proposal has drawn criticism from the board and the public at large for a variety of reasons. Some object to the way the tower would look to hikers at the top of Deer Leap. Adjacent property owners complained the tower would be a risk to health, as well as negatively affect property values.

Residents on the north end of town complained the project will improve cell service along Route 4 while still leaving many homeowners along Route 100 without a signal.

In late November, Kohler asked the board to table the issue until January, as AT&T looked at making changes to the plans to make the project more appealing, such as employing a “monopine,” which is a tower that resembles a tree.

Now, Kohler has asked the town to suspend its deliberations altogether.

“AT&T is working with (Killington) Resort to evaluate alternative locations for a site in the area and would like the town to postpone its consideration of the current site while AT&T evaluates alternative locations,” Kohler wrote in an email Monday to Town Manager Seth Webb.

According to Kohler’s email, AT&T met with representatives from the resort before the holidays to discuss the resort’s concerns with the project.

The town continues to receive correspondence from property owners opposed to the project, including new and long-time residents of Northside Condominiums.

“As a board member of the Northside Condominium Association, we too were approached for permission to build this tower last year by AT&T,” wrote Jay LaCroix, a nine-year resident. “Our board solicited all Northside owners for input to allow this build, and we unanimously felt it would be a significant detriment to the charm and natural beauty of Killington, not to mention an adverse effect on property values, so we voted the offer down.”

Robert Rainero, who described himself as a 33-year Northside resident, also voiced his opposition to the project.

“I have owned here these many years, in large part because I love the natural beauty of the area,” Rainero wrote. “This beauty would be seriously infringed on by construction of a cell tower.”

New resident Regina Clark also wrote to express her opposition.

“We bought a condo at Northside four months ago. We just heard about the proposed cell tower,” Clark wrote. “A tower in our backyard can’t be good for property values. I sincerely hope that no tower goes up this year or next year or ever!”

josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com

Comment: In all fairness to AT&T, while  the concerns of abutting and neighboring property owners are valid, the objection of residents in the north of town, "Residents on the north end of town complained the project will improve cell service along Route 4 while still leaving many homeowners along Route 100 without a signal." seem to me to have nothing at all to do with the proposed cell tower at Pico. It's not just AT&T that is not providing adequate cell coverage north of town but also other carriers as well. I have Verizon and when I'm in that area I have very limited service if any at all. 

Bernie Rome tried to promote some sort of quid pro quo during Ms. Kohler's presentation to the board wherein AT&T would improve service north of town in return for the board's endorsement of the Pico tower. 

It looks like the objections of those most affected are being take seriously as they should be.

Vito

Police investigate Killington burglary

January 02,2014

 

Police investigate Killington burglary

KILLINGTON — Vermont State Police are investigating the theft of money and alcohol from a restaurant on the Killington Road.

At some time between midnight Monday and 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, several bottles of alcohol and what police described as a “large” sum of money were taken from Casey’s Caboose Steak House.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call state police at 773-9101.

Anne Gallivan's response to “What’s your single most important issue for 2014 and why?”

The Rutland Herald polled local representatives on what are their number one priorities for the upcoming  year. This is our Rep. Anne Gallivan's reply:

As we approach the 2014 session, many issues are raising attention. My district is struggling with rising property taxes to fund schools. The pressures of ever-increasing property taxes is hindering mobility for people trying to sell homes and people wishing to buy new homes. This ends up impacting our schools with reduced enrollments and high per pupil costs, affecting challenging cuts in the school budgets. We must evaluate the present formula and consider new balances in our taxing.

Comment:
While it's good the Anne understands the unfair property tax burden in our district, there doesn't seem to be an action plan to address the issue. This in light of the pressures on the state level to balance the current shortfall of $72 million. The only outcomes I see possible in the curent environment is no change or an increase in taxes.
Vito

New Peak Lodge will open today

December 27,2013

Rutland Herald

 

Killington’s new Peak Lodge open

KILLINGTON — Killington Ski Resort will open its new Peak Lodge to the public today.

The ski area held a preview Thursday for holders of season passes.

The 15,000-square-foot Peak Lodge has seating for up to 300 guests, a restaurant, a full-service bar and lounge areas with couches and coffee tables.

Situated atop the 4,100-foot Killington Peak, the lodge offers panoramic views of the Green Mountains, White Mountains and Adirondacks.

The original Peak Lodge was built in 1967 as the summit terminal, the largest support building for Killington’s first gondola.

Plans for the new $7 million lodge began more than two years ago. The 1967 lodge was taken down during the summer of 2011.

The foundation, footings and bottom floor walls of the new building were completed in the fall of 2012.

The lodge was designed by Robert Carl Williams of Pittsfield, The general contractor was Engelberth Construction of Colchester.

The venue participates in Green Mountain Power’s Cow Power Program, using electricity generated from cow manure.