Keene · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Keene public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
16-inch Water Transmission Main Assessment
A cluster of water infrastructure items came before the committee: repairing the 3-million-gallon tank, inspecting the transmission water main with new engineering services from KenWave Solutions, and contracting for the City Hall garage rehab.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Tank Repairs
The council was slated to consider construction services for the first phase of tank repairs at the wastewater treatment plant — the kind of behind-the-scenes work that keeps the city's sewer system running.
Emergency Pearl Street Sewer Main Repair
A cluster of water infrastructure items came before the committee: repairing the 3-million-gallon tank, inspecting the transmission water main with new engineering services from KenWave Solutions, and contracting for the City Hall garage rehab.
Guitard Homes Cottage Court Utility Easement
Three of the night's approvals use Keene's newer Cottage Court rules to add housing: two Habitat for Humanity homes on Grove Street, a 14-unit townhouse project near Elm/Carroll, and a starter home on George Street. The board noted the city changed its code specifically to allow this kind of gentle density.
Lower-cost power option for low-income Keene Community Power customers
About 300 Keene households on electric assistance will be shifted from the pricier Keene Standard default to the least-cost Keene Basic product, lowering their bills. Councilor Favolise argued the change doesn't go far enough for the other 22,700 ratepayers facing higher costs from the reauthorized plan.
Court Street well field upgrade
Trace amounts of golf-course pesticides, including Iprodione in Production Well 3, were found in groundwater — all far below health benchmarks. The well is offline, and the City is tripling its sampling and working with DES on a pesticide management area around the wells.
Water and sewer rate increase
Your fixed water and sewer charges go up 5% on July 1, the second step toward catching up with a 15% cost rise since 2022. Officials note costs are driven by staffing, chemicals, and fixed lease costs, not how much water you use — and tap water still costs under a penny a gallon.
Interest on delinquent water and sewer bills (Ordinance O-2026-05)
Over $1 million in water and sewer bills is past due. The new ordinance adds 12% annual interest so people can't use the winter shutoff moratorium as a free loan.
WWTP Service Water System Upgrade Funding Gap
The 40-year-old service water system upgrade came in over budget — lowest bid $389,000 against $285,600 allocated — so leftover aeration-line bond funds are being redirected to cover it.