By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
NEWPORT — After several years of searching, Newport may have found a piece of land that might be perfect as a water source in the future.
At Monday’s meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the details were revealed by Town Manager Hunter Rieseberg during a brief public hearing. A required second hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 16.
The six-acre piece of land is located at the intersection of Route 10 and Corbin Road, north of town.
Rieseberg said the area has been tested for water and the driller involved said it is probably among the best wells he has seen in his career.
The final test now being done is to check the land area for any contamination and that report is expected to be back by the time of the final public hearing on Jan. 16.
After the meeting of the selectmen, Rieseberg said this well could be used as a backup for Newport’s water supply in the future should there be any problems with Gilman Pond in Unity or the present backup well at Pollard’s Mill. “It might even be Newport’s main water supply in the future,” Rieseberg stated.
While Gilman Pond has produced most of Newport’s water for decades there has always a concern that supply could be interrupted should the water line running from Unity to Newport fail because of a break.
The six-acre plot of land north of town is currently on the market, Rieseberg said. It is owned by the estate of the late William Ruger. Newport has agreed to the $30,000 asking price based on passage of the land contamination test.
A smaller piece of land, six-tenths of an acre, will also be purchased by Newport if the purchase of the larger lot goes through. The price for that area will be $5,000. The smaller piece abuts Parlin Field and is not large enough for a building lot, Rieseberg revealed. Owning that piece of land would help protect the 400-foot radius needed by the larger land area where the well would be located.
Rieseberg told the board that Robert Ostertag, a Town of Newport Truck Driver, had recently completed the UNH Road Scholar Program.
The Board approved a fee waiver request from the Newport Farmer’s Market for use of the Newport Common this summer. The rental fee of $100 per day along with the $50 deposit as well was waived.
A school funding budget update was provided during a discussion between Bert Spaulding Sr., a spectator, and Board Chairman Jeff Kessler. Both are members of the Newport Budget Committee.
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