Tolland Water Commission, WPCA Ask Town Council for Help

The Tolland Water Commission and Water Pollution Control Authority discussed staffing and financial issues plaguing the commissions with the town council at a special combined meeting on Tuesday, October 18, according to the posted minutes.

The conversation marked what is planned to be a long discussion on the volunteer comissions and public utilities are run. Currently, the volunteer members of both groups take their own time to visit sites and submit paperwork to public agencies like the state DEEP, in order to save money on consultants. As stated in the posted minutes, which are not yet approved, WPCA members Gene Koss and Richard Symonds saved thousands in consultant fees by creating a response to the Department of Public Health.

Both committees are currently assisted by Town Engineer Jennifer Usher and have asked the town to hire a part-time assistant engineer to assist with the groups' workload. According to the minutes, the town has advertised for that position previously, but did not receive any responses.

The commissions have to pay operating fees to the Connecticut Water Company (TWC) and Water Planet (WPCA) when they need to use the companies' employees for essential work and consultation.

The WPCA has additional concerns due to consent orders the DEEP has placed on the authority that are calling for multi-million dollar "constructed solutions" to what the DEEP hopes will prevent potential water pollution in Tolland. The WPCA currently has 75 customers, according to the minutes. WPCA member Todd Rolland noted that there has been no evidence of water pollution in Tolland so far.

Town Council Chairman Fred Daniels said that the new town council will have to examine the two utilities and make their issues high priority, according to the minutes.

The Tolland Water Commission was formed in the early 1980s and serves 527 customers, according to the minutes.

For the full minutes of the meeting, visit the town's Web site.