Public Hearing Slated For Birch Grove Soil Work Financing

TOLLAND, CT — A public hearing has been scheduled for next week in Tolland to approve using state grants to pay for $1.8 million worth soil remediation work at Birch Grove Primary School.

The public hearing will be staged remotely and is slated for Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. Log-in details are on the town's website.

The Tolland Town Council will be hearing comments on the following item:

Consideration of a resolution modifying the scope of the Birch Grove Primary School Project and authorizing an appropriation of $1,869,941 for the excavation and replacement of soil and the financing of said entire appropriation by state grants.

The work relates to removing what has been deemed "unsuitable soil" at the new Birch Grove Primary School work site. The local legislative contingent hailed the grants as part of a $209 package of funding for several school building projects.

The state House of Representatives met in a special session on Sept. 30 and of the state Senate met on Oct. 1.

Birch Grove fell victim to the crumbling foundation crisis in the area and a new school was planned at a cost of $46 million.

In May, a 56 percent reimbursement rate was approved, but in a follow-up move state officials upped the ante to 89 percent.

Construction on the new Birch Grove began this year. As the work began, a soil test showed no pollution, but determined the base was not suitable to support the building. The cost to remove the unsuitable soil was about $1.8 million.

The new school is slated to open in August 2021 for students in pre-kindergarten to Grade 2.