July 24, 2013

Rep. Case announces state-funded dam repairs in Winchester

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WINCHESTER – Much-needed infrastructure improvement projects are expected to be approved Friday during the state’s Bonding Commission meeting in Hartford, giving a facelift to local dams and flood control areas.

State Rep. Jay Case, R-Winchester, showed state environment officials and town administrators the project locations on Tuesday, including the Sucker Brook Dam near Highland Lake. The two-year projects, upon passage Friday, will be funded through state appropriations as part of a massive capital improvements measure passed this year in the General Assembly.

“Some hurting areas here in town, and throughout the northwest corner of Connecticut, will see money coming in soon,” Rep. Case said. “The funding will bring much-needed improvements to places like Sucker Brook Dam and the Mad River region. Over the course of the two-year period, residents can look forward to enjoying better overall public safety and advancements in environmental protections.

“The funding finances these construction designs that will last our town and our state a long time. We will see jobs come to the area – state agencies expect about 55 construction-related workers – and we will see taxpayer dollars going to projects that have been in need for a while. That’s why I’m happy to see these developments come to town,” Rep. Case added.

Sucker Brook Dam in Winchester, which has seen its road deteriorate and off-road trespassers dig into the underlying state-owned land, will see $497,000 in bonding and the Mad River project will receive $311,000. While the funding won’t go toward road fixtures on the dam, it will repair erosion damage, flood repair and flood-control issues on the site.

On Tuesday, Rep. Case was joined by state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection officials and Winchester’s town manager and public works director. In addition to Sucker Brook Dam, Rep. Case addressed safety concerns, its security and misused condition with the group at Taylor Brook Park, and ended the tour at Torrington’s Burr Pond State Park, which Rep. Case recently adopted.

The funding, part of Public Act 13-239, is a sliver of the $3.27 million immediately authorized for northwest Connecticut projects and the more than $20 million set aside for state and local dam repairs over two years.