VERNON — The Selectboard recently voted to cover the costs of running the Emergency Operations Center, which may add over $6,000 to the town's budget.
For many years, the center, located on Governor Hunt Road, was occupied and run by Vermont Yankee, and then Entergy, for nuclear-power-plant-related emergency purposes.
Because of Entergy's efforts to reduce costs associated with the decommissioned plant - including emergency planning - the company wants to be released from paying to operate and maintain the center, Emergency Management Director David Emery told the Board at their Sept. 6 regular meeting.
Board member Steve Skibniowsky noted the center may prove useful to the town for non-nuclear plant emergencies.
Emery supplied the Board with estimated annual costs of running the center: $600 for electricity, $1,120 for fuel oil, $1,200 for internet, $1,400 for telephone and fax lines, $1,000 for generator fuel and maintenance, and $275 to maintain the emergency sirens.
These numbers could change, Emery said, because he is still collecting data.
Although Emery advised the Board to include center-related expenses in their future budgets, he said he is “confident” the agreement Entergy made with the state to cover emergency planning will also cover these costs. Emery offered to “lean on” some “people up in Waterbury” on the town's behalf.
Emery also offered to work with Town Administrator Michelle Pong on the budget.
But, Emery told the Board, “as long as there's ever an agreement with the state and Vermont Yankee … the town should be well kept."
“They should take care of us,” said Board Chair Christiane Howe, “because we were the host town for many years."
“And we still are,” Emery added.