Some updates for you from Monday’s Town of Woodstock Flood Response Meeting:
Police Report from Chief Robbie Blish:
a. Got your quarters ready? PARKING ENFORCEMENT returns to Woodstock today (Tuesday)!
b. Lock your cars and homes. Do we need to tell you this again? Lots of flood response contractors around not all with the best of intentions. Use extra caution before hiring anyone to do anything!
Water: Tank level is holding. Continue with moderate use/consumption. Continue to save or have bottled water on hand. There will may be some scheduled shut-downs in the next few days or so. Higher water pressure may be blowing some smaller lines. Still some fixes needed to water and sewer system. Free bottles of water are still available for the taking at the Emergency Services Building at the East End of Woodstock.
Vail Field: Bob Pear has handed the water reins back over to Town Manager Phil Swanson and has now been asked to help with restoration of Vail Field. For the moment, the Town is being conservative and recommending not using it. We’re still waiting for some soil tests from the area to give a reading about possible hazardous materials brought in by the overflow of the Kedron Brook.
Water Test Kits: They were scheduled to be brought in to the Volunteer Command Center Monday. Keep checking. Sari White reports that many folks are wondering about whether their wells might be contaminated or not. Town Manager Phil Swanson says this is a legitimate concern. One item of note is the State has suggested that disinfecting your well first with chlorox and then wait and take a water test later. Another suggestion is that a couple of cups of Chlorox will do the initial job, a whole jug not necessary. There is also a water testing business in Perksinville which is reported to be offering free testing if you label your water sample Hurricane Irene. It’s called Aquachek.
Burn Piles: You need a burn permit. If you can possible wait til later in the Fall it is better idea according to Town Manager Phil Swanson. Let more rain get on the piles to get rid of possible toxic materials. Smoke has a better tendency to rise with cooler temps and lower humidity. Wet wood the sits around smouldering causes smoke problems. No plastics, no Naugahyde couches — just burn natural brush and vegetation.
Volunteer Stats: More than 1,000 ave offered help and been documented with more than 5,000 hours of work. So far, from Flood Asssessment sheets that have been returned, 57 distinct individual households have asked for help, 78 reports of water in the basement.
River Banks of Ottauquechee: Normally this is a State of Vermont question. The Town is not involved except in special cases. Homeowners are responsible for their own banks and need to consult with the State of Vermont. Town Manager Phil Swanson is looking into a possible program that might help homeowners with bank stabilization at a 75%/25% match. More details as learn them.
The Obelisk: Sticking straight up out of a newly created pile of rocks and gravel in the middle of the Ottauquechee River (as seen from River Street) is a virtual obelisk. Several Early Birds have asked about this. We will try to get the story. It’s believed that an Elm Street homeowner may have been staking out a property line or some sort of general boundary line.
Always those stray worms to dig up…
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 