Violet Sanderson, Administrator for the Town of Afton, stepped into the SVI Radio studio on Thursday, August 7 for her monthly report. Sanderson updated listeners on current and upcoming infrastructure projects and park upgrades.

(0:00) Joining me live in studio for her month, the report for the town of Afton is Violet Sanderson, (0:05) Afton Town Administrator. Violet, good morning, thank you for coming in as always today, (0:09) appreciate it. Thank you, Duke, good morning.
Well, let’s start off with what’s taking place (0:14) to right now in the town of Afton. I guess infrastructure projects, always a lot going (0:19) on this time of year, right? You have the sewer lagoon, some road construction projects that just (0:23) maybe give us a rundown and updates on where things are at. Yeah, so it’s that time of year, (0:28) everybody’s rushing to try and get everything completed.
Luckily, we’ve got some things (0:33) scheduled in a good way where they should be wrapped up soon. Our sewer lagoon expansion (0:37) project, as we’ve talked about that for the last few months, they should be pretty much closed up (0:42) with that in the next couple of weeks. So we’re just on the tail end of getting all those last (0:46) minute things completed.
So we’re excited about that. As far as our Afton, or sorry, our Adams (0:56) Street mainline water project, that’s been a replacement of the water line between 5th and 6th (1:02) on Adams, that is underway. And I believe this week, they’re starting the individual service (1:07) connection.
So that’ll be wrapped up here in a couple weeks. So we’re excited about that one too. (1:12) And we, you know, we I think when I last spoke with you, we were in the process of accepting (1:16) bids for our RFP we put out for some of the maintenance projects we had for roads, we didn’t (1:22) receive any bids when we called for bids.
And so we were able to solicit for bids and the bids (1:28) that we did receive will be brought before the council next week. And so they’ll make a make a (1:32) decision based on the bid tabulation to decide who’s going to be awarded that project. And then (1:36) hopefully that will start as soon as we can get things going on that that’s really just regrading (1:41) of the you know, and adding back material in the right of ways for for drainage and things like (1:47) that.
Crack sealing, chip sealing, things like that. Okay, excellent. The sewer lagoon project (1:53) specifically, it’s been a multi year project.
That’s that’s a huge deal for the town of Afton (1:57) to have that upgrade done. It is and you know, we got we received a large, a large grant to help us (2:04) pay for that project. So we’re extremely grateful that we have that opportunity in our state to grab (2:08) funding for those kinds of projects.
And like we’ve said before, it’s a 20 year expansion project. So (2:14) it was basically us looking at what sort of growth we’re going to see in the next 20 years (2:19) and and putting in the infrastructure to be able to support that. And so, you know, and as stated (2:24) before, we never had any huge concerns with capacity, but just planning for the future.
That’s (2:28) always that’s always something that you need to do as a municipality. At some point, you’re going to (2:32) need more space and more room at those types of facilities. So Violet Sanderson is studio this (2:37) morning after town administrator also understand some projects underway with some of the parks and (2:42) infrastructure, right? Yeah, so we, we have finally secured a contractor to help us to resurface our (2:49) tennis ball courts.
So those can be resurfaced to provide pickleball courts. And so we’re really (2:55) excited for that to happen. He’s going to get started, I believe on the 18th.
So a couple (2:58) weeks out, but we would have liked that to happen sooner. So everybody would have had a longer time (3:04) to be able to enjoy it. But nonetheless, we’re, we’re happy that that’s going to come to fruition (3:08) for the parks.
Perfect. And so that project going to be in the works by the Sanderson is (3:13) studio anything else project wise for the summer, or heading into the fall that needs to be mentioned (3:18) this morning. There’s not any capital improvement projects other than what I’ve already discussed.
(3:24) So we’ve got some small projects here and there on on different changes. The town is currently (3:29) moving forward with trying to put out we’re in the process of creating an RFP because we do want to (3:35) update the master plan for the town of Afton. Obviously, the last master plan was completed in (3:39) 2008.
And so we’ve seen a lot of changes since then. And so we want to make sure that what we’re (3:44) making decision, you know, we make a lot of decisions based on that master plan. And so (3:48) we want to make sure that we’re able to update that to accommodate existing economic, you know, (3:54) the way that the economy in the town of Afton is now ensuring that it’s it’s following in line (4:00) with the growth that we’ve seen since 2008.
I don’t remember if it was last time we talked or (4:04) recently we had talked about the public survey specifically for the downtown corridor. (4:10) I assume you’ve got the results for those and that’s being part of this plan. (4:14) Those are being is or is that something separate? (4:17) So that actually will be part of what will be incorporated into the, you know, the large master (4:22) plan for the town of Afton.
And that corridor study, if you remember the last time I reported (4:27) on it that and that’s not completed yet, just just so everybody knows we don’t have the official (4:31) final results and recommendations from the consultants that are working on that for us. (4:37) But that is something that we have to have in terms of trying to do any changes, especially (4:43) when our main street is is a highway. So they don’t want to let you change potentially speed (4:49) limits or add different signage unless you have a plan that supports what you’re what you’re (4:54) requesting to do.
And so that is the reason for the corridor study. Another thing that we’re (4:59) working with is in kind of partnership with the Lincoln County is they were able to receive some (5:03) TAP funding for a transportation alternative plan. And a lot of that plan is is well, that (5:09) plan is for basically Upper Valley area within Lincoln County.
And so the town of Afton, (5:16) the safest routes to school and things like that is going to be heavily reviewed within that (5:20) assessment. So we’re we’re happy to partner with the county to move forward with that planning (5:25) document, we will have consultants in that will be working on that. Avenue consultants in (5:31) conjunction with Sunrise Engineering, I believe won the won the project on that.
So they’ll be (5:35) working on that moving forward. And we’re happy to have that it’s, it’s funny, you have a lot of (5:40) technical assistance, you know, I say with air quotes that you need to do and have on the shelf, (5:44) so you can go forth and grab funding for capital infrastructure changes. And so we’re hoping that (5:49) with that document, we’ll be able to make some long term changes as we’re reviewing this, this (5:54) master plan that we’re wanting to update for safe routes to school and sidewalks and crosswalks (6:00) and all of that.
So Violet Sanderson, Afton Town Administrator in the studio this morning. (6:04) Violet understand the town of Afton was also involved in a jury trial that just recently (6:09) wrapped up. What can you tell us about this? So there we were involved in a trial and that took (6:14) place last week, there was a defense verdict found in that which means that the town was found not to (6:19) be negligent or liable.
In that case, we are very sympathetic with the plaintiff in terms of (6:24) knowing and understanding that this case arose from, you know, real injury and pain and suffering. So we (6:31) were sad to know that because, you know, we care deeply about all of our residents and people (6:37) passing through our community. But the town of Afton is is still committed to the health safety (6:41) welfare of the public, both for the utilization of the structures we have to provide the services (6:46) and the services that we do provide.
So that’s really all I have to say about that right now. (6:51) But if anybody has any questions, you know, we are happy to answer them to what degree we are (6:56) able to at this time. And we’re not hiding anything as far as the town goes.
We are very (7:01) transparent with the way that we operate. And as we always say, if you have any questions, comments, (7:06) or concerns, please feel free to call us at town hall. Violet Sanderson, Afton Town Administrator (7:10) on the weekday wake up.
Violet, thank you for your time. Anything we missed you’d like to mention? (7:14) I don’t think so, Duke, but I’m sure there’ll be more to report on next month. (7:17) I bet.
It’s all part of the weekday wake up this morning on the SBI radio network.