High Levels of Magnesium and Iron in the Town Water

During the June 4 town meeting, the Barnstead Board of Selectmen spoke about
many improvements that are crucial to the well-being of the people who call this town home.
The selection discussed concerns about Barnstead's water filtration system, the public
workers insurance, the library’s software system and more.
Recently, town officials have found high levels of magnesium and iron in the town
water. After being tested multiple times the board has decided they are going to be looking for
a new, cleaner way to filter the town water for its residents.
The current health and dental insurer for the town of Barnstead’s public town
administrators said they are increasing the rate if the town decides to separate from the entire
group, consisting of seven towns. This grouping was recommended and put together by the
Central Valley Tax Association years ago. This would mean a 13 percent rise of the town’s
individual cost, if they decided to separate themselves. The selectmen will be deciding soon if
they will be leaving the group or not, although it seems like everybody that is currently in it
would like to stay because as one of the selectmans said, once everyone in group disperses
they are not allowed to get back together, since the tax company doesn’t offer it anymore.
They are also looking into a new telephone system because of multiple problems they
have had with the carrier especially having the recent surge that occured just a couple weeks
ago. They are viewing proposals including one from TDS and another from Atlantic
Broadband.
The Board of Selectmen received an informational packet from Eversouce, New
England’s largest energy provider, which is trying to help towns to be one step closer to clean
innovative solar power. The Board forwarded that information to the Solar Committee.
Barnsteads library is in need of a new software system to make sure everything inside
is running properly. One of the selectmen stated that the computers are very up-to-date, while
the software system including the thermometer that is attached is not. To have the system
updated to the level where the new computers are at it could cost “tens of thousands of
dollars to haul out that system and put a new one in.”
They did not sign the contract to keep the library’s technical support from Controlled
Technology which had a yearly fee of around $1,100 since it doesn’t include, ‘x, y, and z’ ⎯
because the contract didn’t cover the failures that were happening in the system. The
selectman said managing the thermostat in the library is a top concern and also updating the
software and the system overall which could be over 20 years old. They have brought this
situation with the Library trustees.
The dam site at Locke Lake Colony has a leak and it is running sand into the lake. The
Board said they will have something ready for that situation in the upcoming fall.
The demolition of the “Houle house” will be going on very soon as the board has just
figured out much of the details of the excavation company. The old selectman’s house, just
behind the town hall, will be taken down by RW Taska including the building and concrete
slab. Then brought to the board's attention the town fire department representative added that
there are two oil tanks underneath the home that could range from 12 to 30 tons.
 The Board decided on RW Tasker and Sons because it was the most inexpensive
choice with their opponents BKB Excavation at $4,500 for the building demolition and then
$90 per hour of concrete demolition. The other option they opted out of was $4,570 for the
whole removal. All demolition companies needed two dumpsters which added up to an
additional cost of $3,000. They are unsure of the cost for the removal of the oil tanks.
The BCEP Solid Waste District’s hours have changed their Tuesdays hours to 7AM
until 2PM. The Board said that the district also said that apart from the demand for night
hours, they are just not feasible unless they received additional funding for lighting and night
staff.
The Board of selectmen meet every Tuesday evening at 5PM in the Barnstead town
hall, all is welcome.