Editor’s note: This storyby Davis Koier is part of a collaborative community reporting project with the Johnson State College journalism program run by Tyrone Shaw.
Last month the Johnson Select Board approved a feasibility study for a project that would convert a 17.3-acre property adjacent to Jollies in Johnson into a community food center.
In a presentation given by Lamoille River Food Co-op, members Carolyn D’Luz and Steve Roberts, along with Johnson Community and Economic Development Coordinator Lea Kilvadyova, a plan was outlined that calls for the creation of a working farm, a community kitchen, a bakery, a butcher shop, a food shelf, community space and a Co-op market with a focus on local agriculture on the land owned by Jim and Linda Jewett.
“I’ve been working with a group in town, and we are interested in starting a Co-op,” said D’Luz. “We feel that doing this food center is a way of investing in our agriculture and also for our future food security.”
The board agreed to sign an option agreement, which means that the Town of Johnson has the exclusive right to purchase and conduct test sites. If the town does not purchase the property within a year, it will have to make a $5,000 non refundable payment. If the purchase does not occur at all, the Jewetts will keep all of the engineering data gathered by the town.
The board also approved allocating $36,700 to the project, $5200 for a site study by Ruggiano Engineer Incorporated, $26,500 for a feasibility study, $1000 for a USDA Rural Development Enterprise Grant Aadministration, and $4000 for a property appraisal.
“A project like this… really requires at some point some people who are very committed to making it happen,” said Roberts. “We’re at a place where we’re able to move forward in a more deliberate way, and the feasibility study is really the next thing.”
Other items covered in the meeting included planning a spring inspection of the town’s ditch system, approval of an application of a Class II Highway grant hiring a consultant to help re-write zoning bylaws to make them more understandable to the public, discussion on creating a snowmobile trail on the Talc Mill property at the end of Railroad Street, and a presentation by Johnson resident Arjay West, who informed the board of a 65-site campground to be built on the Goslette property on Route 100C, which will operate from May 15 to Oct. 15 yearly.
Select Board members present were Franklin Hooper, Douglas Moulde, Eric Osgood and Howard Romero, along with Select Board secretary Jessica Flores.
