By Adam Swift
The town council approved a $58,000 transfer from the capital stabilization account for engineering costs for stormwater system design in the Tileston, Girdlestone, and Pico area at last week’s meeting.
“This $58,000 is to complete the drainage design for the Pico, Girdlestone, Tileston project,” said public works director Steve Calla. “It will get us through final design and permitting. In order to get through the permitting piece, we will still need to secure an easement, and we are actively working on that; we have started the discussions.”
Council President Jim Letterie asked if the funding would get the project through to final design review next spring. Calla said that would likely take place at the end of May.
“This will take us for the stormwater for Tileston, Girdlestone, and Pico, this does not include the seawall which we have to handle for Pico,” said Letterie.
Once the design piece of the stormwater project is complete for the area, Calla said the potential construction would take about a year.
However, Calla noted the construction won’t be starting in May unless the town gets funding. He said there won’t be a final construction cost estimate until the design is complete, but estimated the cost at around $4 million to $4.5 million.
“As far as the permitting piece, that is the real unknown, it depends upon … can’t even start the permitting piece until the easement is secured,” said Calla. “We are hoping for May 30.”
Letterie said the town is currently in discussions for the easement between the yacht club and Woodside.
Celeste Ribeiro Hewitt of the town’s climate commission said the commission will likely hold a summit to not only address the Pico, Girdlestone, Tileston area, but also other hotspots and initiatives in the town.
“Getting this in bits and pieces, it’s hard to string together … so it would be important to understand for most folks – this is the engineering piece and we have the funds earmarked, (and) where the rest of the funds are being earmarked from,” she said. “It would be great if we could have a full overview and discussion.”