Creek Path, Ripley Bridge projects continue
RUTLAND CITY—Assistant City Engineer Nate Stansberry recently gave the Board of Aldermen a plan to put solar-powered flashing beacons where the Creek Path crosses Crescent, State, and West streets. Using solar power fits the city’s “Solar City” thrust, he said. Lights are to be installed in either late fall or early spring. The city also plans some 15 sidewalk ramps to aid people with disabilities in accessing the path. They are part of a state transportation alternatives grant.
Structural steel installation is now complete on the Ripley Bridge. Form work on the concrete deck was scheduled to begin the week of June 27, continuing for several weeks. The old bridges are still closed but Ripley Road is open to the Village Car Wash. Across the river, the intersection of Ripley Road, Dorr Drive, and Clement Drive by College of Saint Joseph is restricted to alternating one-way traffic with a temporary traffic signal.
Road construction crews will be on Independence Day holiday from the end of work on Friday, July 1, through 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 5.
Dorr Drive water line/water service tie-in, a one-day project, is scheduled during the month of July.
Call Natalie Boyle, GPI, Inc., project outreach coordinator, 802-310-7822, with questions or concerns about the Rutland city bridges project, or view the regional Facebook page at VTrans Rutland Region-Construction Contracts. Appreciate the pictures while you’re there.
Massachusetts company buys CVS plaza
RUTLAND CITY—A Massachusetts-based investment company named “31 North Main Rutland LLC” has purchased the 18,000-square-foot CVS Plaza, 31 N. Main St. The seller is Two J’s and Four M’s, Inc.
The 18,000-square-foot building contains the CVS pharmacy, a UPS Store, The Uniform Center, and Avada Hearing Center.
The new owners have offices at Eastern Real Estate LLC, an organization that describes itself as “one of the industry’s commercial real estate investment, development and asset management firms.”
Police: Jokinen sentenced for felony kidnapping
RUTLAND CITY—Two to five years in jail is the sentence Judge Thomas A. Zonay imposed on Michael Jokinen in a plea agreement that changed felony kidnapping to felony second degree unlawful restraint. Jokinen had kept his wife padlocked in a bedroom in his mother’s house on Cleveland Avenue for almost four years.
Solar lands in hot water
RUTLAND TOWN— Rutland Town Fire Chief Frank Cioffi claims that an 800-kilowatt SunEdison solar field is in violation of its certificate of public good by blocking the former location of a previous access road and failing to provide an acceptable alternative, leaving a nearby beverage warehouse exposed to risk. Soft ground and a 15-foot bank near the building will impede firefighting equipment in the event of a fire, he said.
SunEdison had agreed to buy new equipment for the fire department rather than modifying the fire lane, Cioffi told Rutland Town’s Select Board June 14. He had complained to the solar company a year ago, but the problem was not remedied. SunEdison filed bankruptcy papers in April. Its CEO, Ahmad Chatilam, resigned June 22, replaced by Chief Restructuring Officer John Dubel.
Cioffi plans to take the issue to the Public Service Board.
