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Pomfret Scores More Than $2 Million in Bonding Grants
Help coming to the Pomfret Public Library and the Windham-Tolland 4-H
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
POMFRET — The town did very well at the last state Bonding Commission meeting with two projects each pulling in grants at the $1 million mark.
The Pomfret Public Library was awarded $1,011,297 for its addition/renovation of the library. On Friday, June 7, the State Bond Commission approved $1,011,297 for alterations at the Pomfret Public Library to improve existing space with the addition of meeting and activity rooms. According to state Rep. Patrick Boyd, the state grant will pay for half of the total project cost of $2,022,594.The project had been awarded a CT State Public Library Construction Grant of $421,800 in 2018 and done its fund-raising.
But in a press release last year, the committee said: “Architectural firm Silver, Petrucelli + Associates was hired and, after spending many months working with them to fine tune the design and work out the details, they came back with an updated cost estimate. Unfortunately, with post-pandemic construction cost increases and unexpected work that the engineers felt was necessary in the original building, the current estimate is more than twice what was originally planned for. The available funds were insufficient.”
The library’s Board of Trustees and the building committee forfeited the original grant and then applied for the higher figure and continued fund-raising.
The $1M+ grant pays for half the approved costs up to the limit of the grant. The committee can now work construction documents finalization and hopefully go out for bid.
Last year the committee described the project: “The planned addition to Pomfret Public Library includes about 2000 sq. ft. of meeting room space for groups of eight to 60 people. Improvements include: Lounge & café: space to relax or have a quiet conversation; Conference Room & Archives: business and board meetings, research the archives of the Pomfret Historical Society; Great Room: meetings, concerts, classes, movies, lectures, poetry, workshops; Activity Space: a Story Time/group play/Maker Space equipped for art, crafts, games, STEAM; Restrooms: two private, accessible, unisex family restrooms; Art gallery: current and retrospective exhibits of local talent; Patio: extending the Great Room outside to the existing deck, gardens, and walking trail Rooms available for booking after-hours: meeting space for local organizations, boards and clubs; Technology: all rooms fully equipped with computers, fiber internet, wifi, projection and sound.”
"The Pomfret Public Library expansion is a critical investment in our community, helping to transform it into a modern community and library space," said Boyd. "I want to extend my thanks to Governor Lamont and members of the State Bond Commission for considering the project and approving funding for it. A library with updated technology and amenities will provide a more connected and enriching experience to residents."
“This project comes at a crucial time," First Selectwoman Maureen Nicholson. "The need for connection is growing as we become more dependent on remote interactions. Pomfret’s Public Library provides a variety of opportunities for residents to meet and socialize in person in a time of growing isolation. With the space this addition will provide, our community will be enriched with greater opportunities and expanded spaces to come together. When we gather, our community fabric grows stronger, our residents feel connected, and our lives are enhanced.”
Windham-Tolland 4-H Dam Repair
In addition to the library funding, state Representative Pat Boyd said the commission approved $1 million for emergency dam repairs at the 4-H camp. Boyd said, “The camp has always been a vibrant spot in our community, and this funding will go a long way to help with the repairs needed for the camp to continue to serve youth in the Quiet Corner,”
Boyd said. “Funding this project is essential to keeping the camp open not just for the foreseeable future, but for a very long time after. I want to thank Governor Lamont for putting this on the Bonding Commission agenda.”
“The Windham County 4-H Foundation Inc. is celebrating 70 years of service to Connecticut youth in 2024. Our large pond is the centerpiece of our property and programs,” said Jane Rider, president of the Windham County 4H Foundation. “The reconstruction of the dam is vital to our Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp and Ragged Hill Woods Environmental Education programs survival and to the lives of the thousands of children who come through our gates every year to experience life and learning experiences ‘unplugged’ and engaged with the great outdoors and to make life-long friends. We are tremendously grateful to the Bonding Commission for their support which will save our pond and enable us to keep our camp affordable to Connecticut families.”
This saga goes back to 2018 when while weed whacking, seepage on the downstream face of the dam embankment near the low level drain and several sink holes were discovered on the dam. The Foundation has been working with DEEP and civil engineering firms since then. Foundation Treasurer Sandra Ahola said “ We have been working to raise funds for the dam since this discovery. We have already expended $250,000 for engineering and design costs, surveys and inspections and an emergency bank stabilization repair, recently completed by Steve Donahue Construction. These expenses were covered by generous donors including The Gates Group, Buck’s Soft Serve, a grant from the Last Green Valley, ARPA grant awards from the towns of Brooklyn, Killingly, Pomfret and the Borough of Danielson, Foundation reserves, a number of fundraisers and several generous individual donors. The thought of trying to raise an additional one million dollars to fix the dam seemed so overwhelming. This state grant ensures that the dam will be able to be reconstructed in a timely fashion, saving our pond. We have campers from across the state of Connecticut every summer. We work hard to keep fees as low as possible and provide campership support to as many as we can, so feel that this state support is reasonable and so much appreciated. What a wonderful 70th birthday present this is!”
This was the first meeting of the Bonding Commission this year.
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