"This is a community place, and that’s why we bought it, because we believe in community and we believe in providing that," said new co-owner of The Barn Heather Thompson. "We’re really, really excited.”
The goal is to get the new building completely framed out and roofed so that, by the dead of winter, workers can focus on the interior if the weather prohibits outside activity.
"We have mothers putting babies in dirty water for baths. Come on. I'm just furious over this. I'm grinding my teeth over this."
-- Housatonic resident and Housatonic Water Works customer Michelle Loubert
The rickety-looking bridge has long been the subject of complaints and concerns of nearby residents and passersby who have questioned its structural integrity and the appropriateness of allowing large vehicles such as dump trucks and semi-tractor trailers to rumble over its pockmarked decking.
Sean VanDeusen, who heads the town Department of Public Works, said contractors currently performing work on Town Hall found the chimneys "to be in worse shape than previously thought." Two of the chimneys need to be completely rebuilt.
"In general, this is much less intense than the Main Street reconstruction ... Primarily because the rights of way are limited, the funding source is not MassDOT ... which gives us a lot more flexibility in what we can do." --Great Barringtn town planner Chris Rembold
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation defines a complete street as "one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes - walking, biking, transit and vehicles – for people of all ages and abilities."
In Great Barrington, it's costing $150,000 annually and is rising at 30 percent per year, to unclog the town sewer system. Reliable estimates put the cost of fixing the wipe clogs nationwide at $1 billion per year.
Town manager Jennifer Tabakin reminded town residents of the upcoming deadlines for citizen petitions to have items placed for a vote on the warrant for the annual town meeting.
Sean Van Deusen, who heads the Great Barrington Department of Public Works, told the selectmen the sewer rate increase was necessary in order to fund debt incurred because of a mandated sewer system upgrade.
The cost for a sewer system as small as Great Barrington's is staggering. The annual cost for dealing with so-called "flushable" wipes is estimated to be $150,000 for cleaning and unclogging, with labor alone costing $85,000.
During construction, the Bridge Street bridge in Great Barrington will be limited to one lane of alternating traffic. Accommodations for pedestrians will be in place. Completion of the project is anticipated to be in the spring of 2017.
